BASIC burial costs in both Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire have rocketed in recent years as both councils look to bring their services in line with other local authorities. 

Research carried out by BBC Scotland has revealed increases in costs at councils across the country. 

Charges in East Renfrewshire, which were the second cheapest in Scotland in 2010, have increased by 136 per cent.

A basic burial now costs £680, up from £288 just seven years ago. 

In Renfrewshire, the surge in prices has been less dramatic. However, residents have still experienced a steady rise in burial costs since 2010. 

Despite rising from £296 per burial to £467 between 2010 and 2017, the 58 per cent increase still sees Renfrewshire Council charging the second lowest of all of Scotland’s local authorities. 

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “As part of our annual review of service charges it was identified that burial charges within the area were well below the national average. 

“A full benchmarking exercise of all other councils’ charges for this service was undertaken and our charges have now been increased to bring them more in line with the national average.”

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to keeping the cost of funerals at the lowest possible price and provide appropriate services to families to support families through the most difficult of times.”

Nationally the increase in charges has been around 77 per cent, with some local authorities increasing costs by more than 150 per cent in seven years.