Work is to start on a new £4.9million mortuary at St Peter's Hospital in the next fortnight.

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust acting chief executive Paul Bentley said the new morgue would replace one built in the 1940s at the hospital in Chertsey.

"We have long recognised that our mortuary facilities, including the arrangements for the next of kin to see the deceased, are not as good as we would wish," Mr Bentley said.

"A new building more central to the main buildings on the St Peter's Hospital site will enable us to provide a better service for those who have suffered a death and be good for staff for whom we need to improve working conditions.

Pathologist Dr Michael Hall said the new mortuary would make it easier for relatives of the dead.

"New facilities will also improve the service for relatives who will not have to travel to the far side of the site at what is a very difficult time for them," Dr Hall said.

"It will also mean that we can maintain our clinical pathology accreditation standards and continue to provide post mortem services for the local coroner."

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust operates two district general hospitals, in Ashford and Chertsey.