Proposals to scrap crematorium fees for children under the age of 18 in Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton have been agreed.

The boroughs will also offer cremation services at a reduced rate, from £555 to £267, for those who may be suffering from funeral poverty, following a proposal by Furzedown Labour councillor Candida Jones.

This was seconded by Worcester Park Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Wingfield.

This changes will come into effect in January next year after a meeting was held by the North East Surrey Crematorium Board (NESCB).

Councillor Candida Jones, former chair of the NESCB, said: "Last year I chaired the NESCB and made it a priority to do what I could to tackle the iniquity of funeral poverty. When a loved one dies, the anxiety of not being able to meet the cost of a proper send-off is something I believe no one should have to struggle with.

"As the money local authorities receive from national government is being slashed, many local authorities have chosen to increase their cremation costs as a way of plugging their income gap. I am pleased to have been able to steer Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton in a different direction and show that compassion can and should be at the heart of local government services."

Paul Wingfield, current chair of the NESCB, said: “I am pleased to confirm that the NESCB, comprising of Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton, unanimously agreed at our meeting held on the September 12 to waive the cremation fee for a cremation at North East Surrey crematorium for a deceased person up the person's eighteenth birthday.

“The decision was taken in the context of funeral poverty in general and in particular, the struggle for some families to meet with the cost of a funeral when dealing with the loss of a child together with due consideration for the school leaving age in the United Kingdom.”

According to a report on funeral poverty from the Royal London National Funeral Cost Index Report of 2016, the average cost of a cremation is £3,214.