The costs of dying in Herefordshire are among the lowest in the country, according to new figures.

The average price of a funeral – including both burials and cremations – comes out at £3,468. That’s the 36th cheapest in a list of 42 areas.

Most pricey is London, at £4,838.

Throughout the country the research shows that cremations are cheaper than burials, but the price difference can vary markedly, depending on where you live – or die!

While cremations tend to cost roughly the same wherever you are, there are very big variations in how much you are charged for a burial.

Cremation costs roughly fall in the region of £3,100 to £3,500. In Hereford it’s £3,183.

Burial costs are not so consistent.

In Hereford it is likely to set you back about £3,752, but in some parts of London it can cost more than £7,700.

In the Birmingham and the Black Country area most burials cost above £5,000, rising to £5,636.

For funeral averages, neighbouring Shropshire is 35th cheapest in the country at £3,475, Worcestershire is 6th most expensive at £3,927.

The research was carried out on behalf of funeral stationery makers A Loving Tribute in response to reports of ‘funeral poverty’ and to highlight England’s ‘postcode lottery’ in funeral prices.

In Scotland the Social Security department has taken control of the rising problem of funeral poverty to aid those who can not afford to bury or cremate a loved one.

However, A Loving Tribute say “we are still awaiting similar aid within England”.

The research was carried out by YouGov and involved the public and funeral arrangers.