A WOODLAND burial site in the grounds of Durham Cemetery has opened a new facility.

The Bishop Stephen Sykes Lodge was opened by Frank Nicholson, former managing director of Vaux Brewery, who has mentored the Woodland Burial Trust Community Interest Company, which is behind the project.

The site is the only community owned woodland cemetery in the country and the opening took place on Saturday.

The company’s spokesman Will Mapplebeck said: “The lodge is a wooden building designed to give relatives a place to hold non-religious services on site.

“The opening of the lodge represents an important 'next step' and the CIC is currently looking at bringing the cooperative-style model to other areas of the North-East.”

Burials have already taken place at the site.

The lodge is sponsored by North-East environmentally-friendly coffin maker JC Atkinson.