DISTINGTON Hall Crematorium will be hosting a virtual Christmas memorial service to offer people the chance to remember their loved ones this year. The crematorium’s traditional Christmas memorial event cannot take place this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, so the team will insteadproduce a recorded service that can be viewed online. It will feature readings and a visual tribute, with the names of dearly departed loved ones scrolled on the screen.

James Hunter, Copeland Council’s parks and open spaces manager, said: “Christmas is a special time of year for families, and it can be poignant time too when we remember the loved ones we have lost. This year, perhaps that is more appropriate than ever. It is disappointing that we cannot hold our memorial service in the traditional way this year, as we know this has been an extremely popular event for our community since we launched it two years ago.

“However, like many organisations, we would like to take the opportunity to adapt and offer a remote and safe alternative, and we hope that our community can get a level of comfort and reminiscence from our online service this festive period.”

It can be viewed on Copeland Council’s website and social media from December 18 to the New Year. To have a loved one’s name included in the visual tribute, telephone 01946 830561 or email distingtonhalladmin@copeland.gov.uk before December 4.