A WIDOW has spoken of her shock after discovering the cost to bury her husband in the town where he grew up and lived until five years ago will exceed £4,000.

Rachel Griffiths’ husband Ian lived in Blaina his entire life before moving to Newport.

A former Abertillery youth rugby coach, Mr Griffiths suffered a heart attack and died on November 14, at the age of 46.

But when Mrs Griffiths said she wanted to bury him in Blaina Cemetery she was told by Blaenau Gwent council that the interment costs for non-residents is £4,087, as opposed to £1,557 for people who live in the borough.

The 39-year-old mum-of-three said: “It was a shock when they told us the difference in cost

“It is a massive difference, it is more than double.”

Mrs Griffiths said all of her husband’s family still live in Blaenau Gwent where he “well-known” for his work as a doorman.

Mrs Griffiths, of Pencarn Way, Newport, said: “What is already a difficult time is being made even more upsetting because of having to deal with this.

“You expect it to be a bit more expensive, but not so much. They want the money upfront as well.”

She said the family would be burying him in Blaina Cemetery anyway because her husband “needs to go home”.

“In the last few years, Ian hadn’t been able to work or coach due to ill health,” she added.

“He had dilated cardiomyopathy, which meant his heart didn’t work as well as it should, restricting him in lots of ways.

“He was short of breath, for example. We didn’t know what it was for years and it was only diagnosed three years ago.”

“One of the things with his condition is that sudden death can happen. We didn’t expect it so soon though.

“I am shocked, I am devastated, we only got married last year.

“My little boy doesn’t understand. He is only four and he is heartbroken.”

A council spokeswoman said: “The policy adopted by Blaenau Gwent council is that internment fees are higher for non-residents.

“This policy applies to residents living outside the county borough for more than 12 months at the time of death. This is common across local authorities in the UK.

“In 2013, the council reviewed all cemetery fees and charges and the new fees were then set by councillors. These amounts have increased annually as part of the budget setting process.

“As we have other non-resident internment requests, all of whom with different circumstances and reasons to be interred in Blaenau Gwent, it is essential that this policy is adhered to consistently.”