A MEADOW could soon become the region's first cemetery allowing people to be buried next to their pets.

Ebchester farmer Alan Willey is seeking to create an ecological woodland near Consett, County Durham.

As a final resting place for humans and small animals, the environmentally-friendly graveyard, in Seven Penny Meadow, Longclose Bank, Medomsley, would include a number of New Age-style features.

Coffins would be made of biodegradable materials such as cardboard or wicker, lowered only three feet into the ground.

The shallow graves, combined with the "earth-friendly" casket, ensures the whole package, body included, decomposes quicker to create a process of "renewal" or a "return to nature" for the deceased.

Stone headstones will be a thing of the past there. Instead, individual trees will mark the burial spot and relatives will be able to pay their respects by consulting a plan of the trees for their loved one.

Mr Willey said the idea was to be unconventional.

"I think this idea is fairly unusual. There are a few dotted round the country but I think the only one in the region is up at Hexham.

"It's all about giving people choice. It will appeal to green-minded people who are looking for an alternative to the conventional burial.

"Also, some people feel they can cope with their grief more if they become involved in the funeral process. With this kind of burial site they can become as involved as they like."

If given the go-ahead by councillors at today's Derwentside District Council development control committee meeting, it is thought Mr Willey's site could become the first to let people be buried next to their pets.

Councillors are expected to approve the plans, with a condition that no man-made structure is built on the site.