A WOMAN from York, who is believed to be one of the youngest female undertakers in the country, has taken on a county-wide role.

Hayley Owen, of Moor Monkton, set up her her own funeral business just over a year ago, in York's Boroughbridge Road, and has recently become the chairwoman of the Yorkshire division of the British Institute of Embalmers.

The 28-year-old, whose family had no connection with the funeral business while she was growing up, is now both a qualified funeral director and embalmer, after spending four years studying embalming from the age of 18.

She said: "I have wanted to do this since I was quite young. I always aimed to become qualified and have my own business.

"I have a caring nature and it involves doing lots of different things. No funeral is ever the same I don't think. No family is ever the same."

She added: "It is something I have worked hard for over the last 10 years. Many young people generally don't know what they want to do. I just got on with it and always wanted to do it."

The British Institute of Embalmers was founded in 1927 by 15 funeral directors who saw the need for an organisation for professional embalmers.

Hayley is delighted to take on the role of chairwoman of the institute's Yorkshire division.

She said: "I have earned the right to be chairwoman, it's great to be in charge of the Yorkshire division.

"It's nice to have young people [as members of the division]. Quite often you don't have young people attending meetings."

Hayley says her business, which she runs with the help of her partner Dave Barker and her father Peter Owen, is doing "very well".

She said: "I think people like the fact a lady is caring for their mum, it is a personal thing."

She claims there are now a lot more women becoming funeral directors than in the past.

"It is about equal between men and women now, though not as many women own their own business," she said.

Hayley endeavours to ensure each funeral is unique.

She commented: “No two people are the same in life and that’s true in death as well.

"I’m proud of the services I offer and hope they help to relieve some of the grief and stress that loved ones are feeling.”

She has several funeral vehicles, including some seen on TV, in Eastenders and Silent Witness. She has a hearse and limousine used during the funeral of one of the infamous Kray twins.