A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service has invested in its first fully-electric hearse.

The purchase responds to the needs of those in the region, as new data collected by A.W. Lymn in its Funeral Choices survey earlier this year found that nearly three quarters of those surveyed in Nottingham say a sustainable funeral is important to them.

Produced by ceremonial vehicle manufacturer Coleman Milne, the zero-emission Etive hearse is based on the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Alongside the hearse, the funeral directors has also invested in two additional Ford Mustang MachE electric vehicles and two private ambulances, completing the A.W. Lymn electric fleet.

Renowned for having the largest Rolls-Royce funeral fleet in the world, with 10 Rolls-Royce hearses and 24 Rolls-Royce limousines, the electric hearse is now the first to be owned by A.W. Lymn since it was established in 1907.

Nigel Lymn Rose, company chairman, said: “The Etive marks a significant point in the business’ 116 year history and reflects the social transition to a greener future. We have been serving the bereaved in the region for five generations now, providing a service for families which is ever evolving with the times, from horse-drawn carriages to motor vehicles and now to electric.

“As the needs of the communities we support change, we are constantly reviewing and expanding our services to ensure we meet all requests. We have witnessed a rise in eco-funerals in recent years, so it’s essential that we invest in more sustainable options to both ours, and our community’s, passion for reducing carbon emissions. We are very excited about this transition and plan to continue to look for ways to introduce green initiatives in the funeral industry.”

The electric hearse which will be homed at A.W. Lymn’s headquarters in Sneinton and will support its 27 funeral homes across Nottinghamshire and South Derbyshire.