A CRITICAL lack of grave space in Dorset means Muslims are having to pay up to ten times the normal rate to bury their relatives.

Bereavement officers in Bournemouth estimate they will reach full capacity within 15 years. In Poole, it is thought to be just five years.

The lack of room is a particular problem for Muslims because the councils are unable to set aside specific areas for them to be buried.

Religious beliefs require burial within 24 hours of death, in a grave facing Mecca. Because British graves do not face towards Mecca, Muslims must be buried across two plots - doubling the cost again.

Often the only solution is driving the body to Southampton, or even London.

Najaf Yasin, Imam of the Bournemouth Islamic Centre, said: "We are in desperate need of somewhere for our people. At least a corner somewhere. They live and work here, but there is nowhere for them when they die."

The family of one member of the community, a man from Poole who passed away at the end of December, ended up having to pay almost £4,000 to have him buried in a Bournemouth cemetery.

The normal cost of around £450 had to be doubled because he was from Poole, then doubled again because the burial fell on a bank holiday.

"We don't seem to have the same rights as others when it comes to burying our people," said Mr Yasin. Linda Barnes, a bereavement officer from Bournemouth Borough Council, said: "We do the best we can, but space is extremely limited and there are no new areas to move into.

"In a perfect world, we would love to have designated spaces for different religious needs, but with all our cemeteries near capacity, it just isn't possible."

The Borough of Poole was recently forced to stop offering pre-booked spaces due to lack of room, but is hoping to get a new cemetery scheme off the ground.

Clive Smith, the council's head of leisure, who is responsible for cemeteries, said: "We hope to put in an application for a new site in Magna Road in the next two years, which would relieve a lot of the pressure in coming years.

"And although this is very early days, we would hope to include something for different religions in the plans."