A CHURCH is planning to turn a small corner of its burial ground over to a garden of remembrance, where ashes of loved ones can be buried.

The church council at St James's Church, Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, has given unanimous backing to the scheme and is now awaiting final clearance from the Ripon and Leeds Diocese.

The diocesan advisory committee has already recommended approval of the scheme.

Officials at St James's say the garden would be established on the east side of the churchyard, near a boundary wall.

Only one space remains for the burial of ashes, but the new area will create 30 plots with limited-sized memorial headstones