POOLE Crematorium has raised £5,000 for charity by recycling the metal left among the ashes of burned bodies.

The council crematorium is part of a national scheme which supports bereavement services by recycling metals recovered following cremations.

Recycling in these cases is only carried out with the explicit prior written consent of bereaved families.

Some of the metal is used for new orthopaedic implants or sent for recycling. Some, such as Cobalt, can even end up in aircraft engines.

Less valuable items are smelted down and turned into road signs, motorway barriers and lampposts.

This year’s nominated charity for Poole Crematorium is the Dorset & Wiltshire Children’s hospice Julia’s House, which provides a vital support network for families struggling to care for a life-limited child.

Poole bereavement services manager Liz Hall, who handed over the £5,000 cheque to the hospice, said: "Meeting the volunteers and seeing the facilities have provided me with a better understanding of the unique needs of the families who visit Julia’s House.

"It is humbling to see how the recycling scheme can provide for charities, and how the kindness of bereaved families can help others."

Meanwhile, Borough of Poole environment portfolio holder Cllr John Rampton said: "The loss of a loved one is never easy and our staff take great care to ensure the service we provide to families is handled with the sensitivity it deserves.

"We hope that those families suffering bereavement will take some comfort from the fact that a much-loved and worthy local cause is benefitting in some way."

The national scheme, established in 2004, aims to benefit the environment and provide a lasting legacy to charities providing bereavement care and support services to people and families within the community through the recycling of metals which have been involved in the cremation process.

Following a cremation, remains can contain metals such as items used in the construction of the coffin and, on some occasions, orthopaedic implants such as hip and knee replacement joints.