A cemetery has been slammed as “scandalous” for charging local residents double the price for its burial services.

Penn Road Cemetery recently opened in Hazlemere but residents living in the village will have to pay substantially more than people in High Wycombe to be buried there.

Buckinghamshire Council has said that Penn Road Cemetery operates alongside High Wycombe Cemetery meaning residents that do not live in the High Wycombe area have to pay an additional fee.

It costs £500 to purchase the right of burial of cremated remains with a High Wycombe address but £1,000 for residents living in other areas.

Paul Benning, who has lived in Hazlemere since he was five, hoped to bury his parents in his local cemetery but was told he will have to front up double the cost than if his parent’s lived in High Wycombe.

He said: “If you live in Hazlemere and want to be buried in Hazlemere you shouldn’t have to pay double than people in Wycombe.

“I think questions should be asked about why they are using land in Hazlemere.

“If you lived in Terriers it would be the normal price but because they lived in Hazlemere its double.”

The long-term Hazlemere resident has still not decided where he will bury his parents admitting his dad would have "gone mad" over the price difference.

He added: “My mum and dad are still above my drinks cabinet, we haven’t decided what we are going to do yet.

“Being charged double as a Hazlemere resident is outrageous.

“Our address is Hazlemere, High Wycombe it’s not Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire.

“I know you have to pay to do these things but it really goes against the bone.

“I know exactly how my dad would have felt, he would have gone mad if I thought I paid double to have him buried there when someone in Wycombe could come up and have it done half the price.

“I have lived in Hazlemere all my life, I have been here since I was five years old.

“It is the easiest place for me, if it’s snowing at Christmas I can go round and put some flowers down.

“I think it's scandalous.”

The plans for the cemetery began back in 2017 by Wycombe District Council and High Wycombe Town Committee amid fears the High Wycombe Cemetery would run out of space for burials within years.

Mark Winn, Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Services, said: "Penn Road Cemetery operates alongside High Wycombe Cemetery as part of a combined provision for residents from the unparished area of High Wycombe.

“It is primarily funded by precept payments within the council tax paid by residents living in this area. Residents from other areas can also be buried at the cemetery for an additional fee."

To view a full list of fees visit this page.