Mansfield independent funeral directors A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service has expanded its mortuary to improve facilities.

The new 24-space refrigerated mortuary, which has quadrupled in size, was welcomed by families because it meant they were able to have loved ones closer to home.

The funeral home, known as The Old Farm, is located on Welbeck Road in one of the oldest buildings in Mansfield Woodhouse, which dates back to the 1860s. As well as modernising the facilities, the newly-refurbished home also includes the provision to embalm, making it the largest mortuary facility in the Mansfield area.

Jonathan Baker, senior funeral director for the Mansfield area, said: “We are always looking for ways to improve our facilities and offer the best service to our customers. Even before the pandemic, we needed more capacity at our funeral home as the number of funerals conducted in the region was growing.

“Combined with the increase in deaths from Covid-19, it meant we were expanding our facilities at exactly the right time and the quick expansion works meant we could start using the mortuary straight away. The local community is at the heart of everything we do and knowing we could help the surrounding hospitals by easing the strain off their services has made it all worthwhile.”

Jonathan explained how the way funerals operate has dramatically changed over the years, which has also had a great impact on the need for more space.

He said: “20 years ago average holding times of the deceased was only seven or eight days, now it tends to be between 2-3 weeks. Our services have changed alongside the times, and with much longer holding times now we are pleased to be able to offer not only the space but also the best service to the families who chose us to organise funerals for their loved one.”