A new arrangement for which companies have been chosen to take dead bodies to mortuaries in Reading and across Berkshire is due to be undertaken.

When a person dies their body is eventually transferred to a mortuary, where their body is stored for either burial or cremation.

A body may also be moved for examination by a coroner investigating the person’s death.

The work is both sombre and substantial, as approximately 2,100 are reported to the coroner each year.

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Reading Borough Council is in charge of contracting out the transfer of deceased people from their place of death to mortuaries for the whole county of Berkshire, as Reading hosts the coroner service.

Now the council is on the look out for new companies to provide the body transfer service.

Council officer Matthew Golledge explained: “The coroner requires a service for the removal of deceased from the community to designated mortuaries.

“The council has had several contracts over the years with funeral directors to perform this function, and it’s a model of service delivery throughout England and Wales.

“The proposal is to award new contracts for three years with the possibility to extend for a further two 12 month periods.

“The geographical area is divided into four zones to attract smaller businesses and reduce travel distances.”

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Running the service does have a financial implication, currently costing £175 per body transfer.

However, the council’s contractor has decided not to extend the contract, which will expire in December.

This means prices of body transfers could go up, as Mr Golledge said prices vary from £25-£350.

The total costs are estimated at £110,000 per year, which is split among the six Berkshire authorities.

Reading Borough Council’s policy committee unanimously agreed to award the contract to the most advantageous tenderer.