BOURNEMOUTH'S mortuary is now 'fully operational' after being temporarily shut down a year ago.

Holly Tree Lodge, in Gloucester Road, Boscombe, shut in February after a blockage in the drainage system caused dangerous fumes to enter the building.

Three members of staff suffered ill health for several weeks as a result.

The mortuary was reopened last summer, with additional ventilation installed.

A report to the borough's audit and governance committee states: "With the mortuary now fully operational and in a ‘business as usual state’, a back-up generator has now been installed at the site to ensure continuity of supply and remove significant risk in the operation of the facility.

"Three pathologists have recently been engaged to provide regular post-mortem services which will greatly reduce the need for agency pathologists and bring greater resilience to the pathologist rota."