Burial fees in Wootton Bassett will rise by more than double from April 1. The cost for exclusive right of burial, currently set at £77, will rise to £170 with the burial of ashes being increased from £30 to £80.

Walled graves and vaults will rise from £182 to £420.

Other rises decided at last week's council meeting include interments, from £77 to £150, and memorials which are set to rise from £58 to £80.

The rises, which are the highest ever seen, bring the fees into line with other cemeteries, after comparisons with Cricklade, Purton, Malmesbury, Chippenham and Calne councils showed that Wootton Bassett was charging well below the going rate.

The income from the cemetery fees currently stands at an average of £14,500 a year with last year's running costs totalling more than £25,000.

Wootton Bassett town clerk Jonathan Bourne said: "The running costs are not being covered and still won't be but the council doesn't look to make a profit from the cemetery.

"It's not just a place for people to get buried but also a service area where people can come to remember loved ones. In that respect we're not looking to break even we just want to get it back in balance."

Coun Heather Wannell said: "The actual cost of burial in Wootton Bassett is expensive so unfortunately the fees need to rise.

"If someone has a very, very small estate then Wiltshire County Council do have to pay for a burial so this shouldn't affect them."

Consultation is still under way on finding a solution to relieve the pressure on the almost full cemetery. Options include either building a new cemetery or to start re-using some of the older graves on the existing site.

The council also agreed to a five per cent increase for the cost of booking the Ballard's Ash sports ground and the Civic Centre in line with the rise in utility bills.