Congleton MP Fiona Bruce has thrown her weight behind a massive campaign to extend Sandbach's cemetery and stop town residents being buried elsewhere.

A massive 4,405 residents have signed a petition to Cheshire East Council demanding that land next to the fast-filling cemetery be used as an extension.

Sandbach Cemetery has only eight years of capacity remaining, according to projections from Cheshire East Council which would see anyone wishing to be buried taken to Crewe or Macclesfield.

The "Save Sandbach Cemetery" petition, signed by 4,405 people, was handed over to MP Fiona Bruce yesterday outside Sandbach library.

Now she is presenting it to the Speaker in the House of Commons later this month to bring the issue to the Government's attention.

She told campaigners gathered outside Sandbach library: "This is clearly an issue which means so much to a huge number of supporters in the town and I am very much looking forward to presenting it to the Speaker."

Ann Nevitt, who organised the petition said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to Fiona who has been very supportive and we are very lucky to have her as an MP. Fiona has done an awful lot of work in the background."

It is hoped Parliament will write to Cheshire East Council supporting the petition. Once presented to Parliament it can then be formally presented to Cheshire East Council.