Coronavirus: Ex-RAF station to become temporary mortuary Published duration 14 April Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic

image copyright BlueSky UAV image caption Norfolk County Council said the site has sufficient space for specialist portable buildings

A former RAF station is to become a temporary mortuary to ensure those who die in the coronavirus outbreak are treated with "dignity and respect".

The "secure" site at the Scottow Enterprise Park, north-east of Norwich, is based at the former RAF Coltishall.

It has sufficient space for specialist portable buildings.

Norfolk County Council leader Andrew Proctor said setting up the short-term mortuary was essential to help restrict the spread of the virus.

Residents living nearby at Badersfield have been informed that the site will not be accessed through the village and the temporary mortuary will be housed in a former aircraft hangar.

Dr Louise Smith, the council's director of public health, said the council was "doing everything it can to be prepared".

"We don't know exactly at this stage how many deaths we are expecting. That would depend on how successful our lockdown is," she said.

She added the mortuary at Scottow was "very much a back-up" to existing mortuaries at funeral homes and hospitals.