Threat to pallbearers as Britain's obesity rate soars

The tradition of pallbearers carrying coffins at funeral services is facing a threat from Britain's soaring obesity problem.

An increased number of seriously overweight people has meant health and safety regulations have restricted usual practices at more and more funeral services.

With the combined weight of corpse and casket regularly exceeding 35 stone, funeral directors are having to use trolleys and lifting equipment instead of professional pallbearers and family mourners.

In other funeral related news, Preston in Lancashire launching an alternative to cremations — freezing the dead, in a process called promession.

The body and coffin are turned into powder after being dipped in liquid nitrogen at minus 196° C.

The dust is then put in a small biodigradable box and either buried in a shallow grave or given to relatives.