A MONUMENT based on an ancient burial ground will be built in a south Herefordshire village offering an alternative for grieving families.

Private company, Sacred Stones, have received planning permission to build a barrow on land near to Hoarwithy.

The grass covered round barrow will be offer 371 spaces called niches for cremation urns.

It will be the second barrow to be built by the company- the first is in Cambridge- and will use stone from Herefordshire.

There will be shelves called niches and they come in different sizes from small, standard and large.

Beverley Meades, from Sacred Stones, said: "What we try and promote at Sacred Stones is when you have a niche and want to intern some ashes into there, you have our site free of charge fro the whole day.

"We are saying, take your time and celebrate someone's life the way they want. It is a secular site but can be faith if you want.

"The site isn't about any particular faith but it is full of faith."

They hope the barrow will pass down through the generations. There are terms of 15, 25 or 99 years, with the option of renewing. If they could not get hold of a member of the family to renew the lease the ashes would then be scattered on site.

Managing director ,Toby Angel, said the barrows are inspired by the ancient burial mounds of our prehistoric ancestors.

He said: "It is a light footprint because we don't dig down. We take a little bit of soil off and build up."

He said the lease is between the purchaser, Sacred Stones and the landowner, Andrew Bower, which means that if Sacred Stones was no longer part of the equation, the landowner would hold due responsibility to maintain it.

Mr Angel said quite often families are told what they can and cannot do when trying to organise a funeral for their loved ones.

He said: "It struck us that there was a possible sensitive way of service a family and more importantly serving a family for future generations."

They have half a dozen other sites identified across the country. There is no electricity, and the space will be lit with candles when visitors are expected.

Mr Angel said: "It is extraordinary, it really is. I have three children. It has been the most life affirming period of my career."

To find out more go to www.sacredstones.co.uk