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A grieving family were left with a £200 fine when their father's funeral overran by 14 seconds.

They were paying their respects to their father at Grimsby Crematorium when a fellow mourner on walking sticks delayed them leaving the chapel.

Despite them only being in the facility for 14 seconds longer than planned, they were slapped with the fine by by North East Lincolnshire Council, which operates the crematorium.

The strict time limits are monitored both at the beginning and the end of services, GrimsbyLive reports.

Funeral directors receive the fines for running over the alloted time slot, but also for not arriving at the start on time.

But this is something often beyond their control as one funeral director told how he had to wait half way down the narrow Weelsby Avenue with his hearse, for all the mourners to leave the preceding large funeral. As a result, he was five minutes late in bringing the coffin into the chapel.

(Image: GrimsbyLive)

Another was one minute late on arrival and received an invoice for the penalty surcharge before he had even managed to get back to his funeral parlour after the service.

The penalty system has "hit every funeral director in North East Lincolnshire" GrimsbyLive has been told.

Some incur the cost of the £200 penalty themselves, but others do pass it on to the grieving families.

It is understood the Cleethorpes family saying farewell to their father finished the funeral service on time, but had a mourner with walking sticks who took a while to walk out of the chapel after paying their respects.

A fine issued to the funeral director involved said the alloted time had been breached by 14 seconds.

North East Lincolnshire Council Councillor Keith Brookes, Conservative, Haverstoe, said: "It looks as if someone is holding a stop watch, clicking as soon as someone walks in the chapel and checks the last one to leave."

(Image: Grimsby Live)

He said: "I want to make sure we no longer have funerals that penalise families. I have tried to find out how many penalties have been imposed on families that have funeral services at the crematorium, but can't find out.

"I want to know how many there have been. It is hitting people at their most vulnerable of their lives.

"Some funeral directors may absorb the fine but not all of them will. But it seems there is no humanity or sympathy."

Councillor Brookes said he had been approached by the upset family who had been fined.

He said: "They ran over by 14 seconds before they could shut the door and got a £200 fine.

"Having been to the funeral and trying to get over it they were upset that people came to pay their respects and then realised there was a fine for over running.

"They look at the crematorium in the same way as people look at a church and can't believe that someone can be so insensitive to take that approach.

"They struggle to think some one was standing, as if they had a stop watch. It has marred it and that will always remain with them."

Councillor Brookes said: "There are some funeral services at the crematorium which finish before their allocated time. Is North East Lincolnshire Council going to offer a rebate if they finish 10 minutes earlier?"

The allocated time for a funeral service at Grimsby Crematorium from the point of entry to the exit is 40 minutes. It was formerly 30 minutes.

Details on the crematorium website show each booking costs £620.

For funerals which are expected to go on longer, families have the option to book two time slots. A direct cremation, without attendance, costs £442. Chapel extension time costs £200 - the same as the penalty for overrunning.

(Image: GrimsbyLive)

Simpler service cremations which are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, have 10 minutes for the service itself, with just five minutes each for entry and exit.

North East Lincolnshire Council portfolio holder for environment, transport and energy, Councillor Matthew Patrick said: "Funeral directors are the ones that orchestrate events and should be respectful and mindful there will be funeral services later in the day. Any delay causes delays for later funeral processions which is what we would like to avoid. There is a disincentive for funeral directors to do that and stick to the time slot that is given to them. Any overlaps affect everybody. "

Similar systems operate at other crematoria, including Scunthorpe and Alford.

The Alford Crematorium has 45-minute bookings and a similar additional charge of £200 for services which over run.

Superintendent Tony Jewitt, of Grimsby's Fishermen's Mission, has been conducting services at Grimsby Crematorium for more than 10 years.

He said: "Funeral directors do their utmost to run to time. If they are late it is up to each minister to reel it in. It is strict. Even one second over incurs a charge. There is no leeway.

"I think it needs revising. They could do something to support because if a family member, talks and talks, it is right and proper they get charged. You have to stick strictly to the time.

"But running over just by seconds and being charged is ridiculous. A five minute buffer would be adequate. But I think it should be on a case by case basis."

(Image: GrimsbyLive)

The Superintendent, who has conducted services at the crematorium for more than 10 years said: "If it is the family's fault then so be it, as long as they are aware of it from the off. But if it is not their fault, it is not right to charge.

"We should all be bending over backwards to help a family. If there was a situation where everyone was late the last service in the day could be half an hour late and that is not their fault. They expect a service to be on time. There are a lot of factors to consider.

"My bottom line would be the charge for running over seconds should be reviewed and let's have some common sense."

A funeral director told Grimsby Live: "When there is a big number at a service you always make sure there is enough time. You often see mourners talking to each other and they will not be aware of the fines there are.

"It is that that causes families to get the fine. If you think it is going to over run then it is best to book an extension. It is the same as the fine (the cost).

"I can understand why it is so rigid because you do not want to be held up at the start. It has to be efficient. But if there is someone who is infirm you need to be sensitive and maybe a warning would be more appropriate."