BEREAVED families are being offered advice in a council handbook.

Community services staff at Wear Valley District Council have compiled a comprehensive range of material for the booklet, which is due to be circulated next year.

Members of the community services committee endorsed the publication, which will cost £1,000 to print. They also adopted the Institute of Burial and Cremation Administration Charter for the Bereaved.

Council leader Olive Brown said: "We have never had this sort of guidance before. It will be invaluable to people.