DEVELOPERS say there is "overwhelming" support for plans to build a new crematorium in the Vale of Evesham.

Members of the public were invited to see plans for the facility at a series of exhibitions in Evesham, Pershore and Fladbury.

The proposed crematorium would be based off the A44 at Fladbury Cross, near Evesham, and would be built by the Westerleigh Group.

Steve Bucknell, development director at the Westerleigh Group, said: "Residents agreed with us that the new crematorium was a much needed facility which would provide a more accessible funeral service option for families throughout the Vale of Evesham and Pershore areas.

"At our exhibition, some Fladbury residents rightly asked questions about the impact of the new building on traffic on the A44.

"We were able to explain that because funerals are held outside rush hour, the traffic impact would be minimal. In fact, the impact will be a reduction in traffic on the road network overall because of the reduced distances involved in travelling to the new crematorium."

Westerleigh says it will submit a planning application in the next few weeks. The new crematorium, which would host an average four funerals a day at intervals of one hour, could be open as early as Autumn 2018.

"We are reassured by the reaction of the public to our proposed design for the new state-of-the-art-crematorium which, when built, will be one of the most advanced crematorium and funeral facilities in the country," added Mr Bucknell.

There are two crematoria based in Worcestershire - one in Worcester and another in Redditch. There are also crematoria in Cheltenham and Oakley Wood, Warwickshire.