A MUSLIM cemetery is to be extended following concerns that there may be no more available grave plots by this time next year.

There are 25 available plots in the Muslim section of Thorntree Cemetery in Middlesbrough and the borough council says these may last between 10 and 12 months.

Most Christian and non-religious burials take place in Acklam and Thorntree cemeteries. Each cemetery has enough land to meet the burial needs of Middlesbrough residents for about 20 years.

The council is to spend £75,000 extending the Muslim part of the cemetery and is working with leaders of the Muslim community to review its approach to Muslim burials and the design of the cemetery to accommodate Muslim traditions, which see burial taking place as soon as possible after death.

The council has made visits to Bradford and Rotherham to look at better practices.

In a report to the council's cabinet, Phil Harper, head of public protection and planning, says the council has a responsibility in terms of equal opportunities to ensure there is sufficient grave space available to meet the needs of the whole community.

He said: "In the meantime, the council ought to manage the supply of available grave spaces to ensure the needs of the Muslim community and other religions are properly met."

Middlesbrough councillor Javed Ismail said the council deserved a pat on the back for dealing with the issue, which he said had been of concern to the town's Muslim community for some time.

He said: "The community in the past felt it was left out and the community appreciates that things are moving on."

The review has come about following a request from a Middlesbrough resident, who applied to buy 20 grave plots in the Muslim section of Thorntree Cemetery for his family.

The request was rejected by the council, as it would have meant one family would have had the rights of burial to 80 per cent of the available Muslim plots in the town, and there would only have been one to two months' supply for the rest of the Muslim population.