The cost of dying in Britain has risen by up to 25% over the past two years, according to a survey.

Research carried out for friendly society Oddfellows found that it now costs an average of �2,048 for a burial service.

A cremation is cheaper, but still costs about �1,215 - a 12% increase in two years.

Over the last nine years, the cost of a send-off for loved ones has risen by 129% for burials and 67% for cremations.

Regional differences

But there is a significant difference to the cost of a dignified departure depending on where the burial takes place.

Funerals in London were the most expensive, at �2,646 - �598 higher than the national average.

The most expensive burial anywhere in the country was found in Kentish Town, north London, at a cost of �3,928.

Scotland, Wales, the West Midlands and North West England also cost more than average, with funeral costs in Wales rising by 72% in two years to �2,233.

The cheapest place to die and be buried was south-west England, where it cost �1,545 for a standard service.

The cheapest cremations were in the north of England for an average of �959.

Oddfellows spokesman Paul Dwyer started the first survey of funeral costs 20 years ago.

Stressful time

He said: "It is difficult to get an accurate estimate of costs from funeral directors. In most cases the final bill will be much more than the original estimate."

He said one East Anglian funeral director quoted �710 for a burial which ended up costing �2,214.

"A funeral is often bought at a time of great stress when it is difficult to invoke market forces," Mr Dwyer added.

He blamed some of the price rise on local authority-owned cemeteries, where the cost of funeral plots was rising.

The survey was carried out for Oddfellows by Gilmour Research, which used an internet source to locate funeral directors who could accurately reflect the geographical spread of the British population.