OLD graves could be reused in an effort to solve an overcrowding problem in cemeteries across York, North Yorkshire and the East Riding.

The Government is considering giving local authorities permission to reuse old graves if it will prevent a cemetery crisis in the future.

The Evening Press understands that a Commons select committee is looking at the issue and could rule in favour of it, if it feels it will help to tackle a growing problem.

As Britain's population gets larger, so the number of people who die increases.

But at the same time, plots available for burial are getting fewer as those who have passed away in previous decades, and even centuries, take up precious space.

Mooted plans could see bodies which have been buried for over 100 years exhumed and reburied further into the ground, leaving a new plot above.

That has come under attack from some parish councils who believe people living in their communities would not accept such proposals.

But Richard Wood, clerk to Pocklington Town Council, said it was something the council would consider, although he maintained there was no immediate need to look at the situation.

"We are lucky in that, as yet, old plots are not needed. This is an interesting issue. Obviously, there would be a time scale on the plots that could be used," he said.

"It is an issue that has to be handled tastefully and I am sure that this is something councillors would want to discuss."

Hugh Goodge, cemetery warden at York Cemetery, said: "We were asked about this quite recently. We don't reuse old graves and we still wouldn't even if we ran out of space."

Andrew Husband, clerk to Pickering Town Council, said: "This is an important part of a much bigger debate about cemeteries in general.

"In Pickering, it would be considered almost sacrilege. We have humps on some older graves where the ground has not settled. People don't want us to change them so imagine what the attitude would be if you considered digging up remains."

Updated: 10:38 Friday, November 16, 2001