WEYMOUTH’S crematorium opened its doors to visitors for an open day after a £1million revamp.

New economical cremators have been installed and the rear of the building extended to house a new abatement plant that filters out toxins and reduces air pollutants from the cremation process by 99 per cent.

Ian Price, bereavement services manager, said the total budget was £1.4million but that the work had come in under-budget.

He is pleased that new windows in the opened out lobby will help increase the number of people who can watch the services from 110 to 150.

Mr Price said: “This has been community led.

“We had an open day two-and-a-half years ago to ask what the public and funeral directors wanted and we were given lots of ideas.”

The new doorway means the pallbearers will no longer have to bend down each time they enter and the removal of the lower radiators has provided more width in the central walkway.

To improve sound quality for deaf people the lectern has been repositioned on the raised platform that will allow them to lip read more easily.

The two new cremators include a larger one with a maximum width of 43 inches.

The smaller single cremator previously used meant that some larger bodies had to be taken elsewhere.

The flower beds outside the front of the lobby have been removed to allow the arrival of the funeral cortege outside the crematorium and thereby allow visitors to congregate.

A new canopy over the main floral display next to the crematorium will allow mourners to take their time outside.

Mr Price said: “One of the complaints we’ve always had is the flower court was wide open to the wind and rain.”

The money has also been spent on a new office area with a toilet and shower for staff and a kitchen area so that the pallbearers will no longer have to wait outisde in the rain.

The money also went towards new gates and signs in the borough’s four cemetaries.