TWO crematoria in County Durham have donated £10,000 to charities thanks to a recycling scheme.

Cruse Bereavement Care and Tees Valley and Durham Marie Curie have each received £5,000 from Mountsett Crematorium and Durham Crematorium respectively.

Durham County Council, which runs Durham Crematorium with Spennymoor Town Council and Mountsett with Gateshead Council, is a member of a scheme which recycles metals left after a cremation.

Once consent is given from a bereaved family, metals such as orthopaedic implants and materials used in constructing the coffin are recycled by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.

Proceeds are then shared between members to donate to a charity of choice.

Graham Harrison, the authority’s bereavement services manager, said: “We’re massively indebted to the generous families who’ve kindly donated these recycled metals to charity. Their consent, given at this difficult time for them, does mean good causes continue to benefit.”