For a fee, family and friends who are not able to attend the service can now log onto the internet and pay their last respects while watching the ceremony live.

Another Worthing-based funeral directors, Tribes, also offers a similar service, along with a plasma-screen to show film and photographs at services held at its chapel.

A discreet camera installed at the back of the crematorium chapel in Horsham Road, Findon, films the funeral, which is immediately streamed onto a special website.

A password allows users to view the service live online, and the ceremony is stored for seven days afterwards.

Worthing is one of the first eight participating crematoriums in the UK to stream funeral services on the internet.

Crematorium registrar Ian Rudkin said: "The camera has been in place since November.

"We have held two services so far where the ceremony has been streamed on the internet, and a few other services have been recorded and put onto DVD for the family to keep.

"We think it's an excellent idea because should family members not be able to attend the service in person, because they live abroad or can't get to the ceremony, they are still able to watch it online.

"The most important thing is maintaining the respect of a funeral."

The company behind the pioneering scheme is Northamptonshire-based Wesley Music, also provides Worthing Crematorium with a bereavement music service.

Worthing Crematorium charge s £70 for the filming of services, plus £50 for an optional DVD copy or £27 for a sound recording.

Wesley Music director Alan Jeffrey said: "The idea was born out of helping people abroad who could not make it to a funeral here.

"After bombing in Basra, a group of Army servicemen were killed and their bodies were brought back to the UK. Using our system their funerals were streamed back to Basra for their fellow troops to watch.

"We have deliberately not publicised this because we are aware of the need for dignity and respect."

Mr Jeffrey said he thought it was unlikely mourners would stop attending ceremonies now they are available online.

Staff at Worthing Crematorium will be telling the town's funeral directors about the service on offer.

Mr Rudkin said: "Family members might like to watch the streamed ceremony from a funeral directors so it feels as if they are attending the service in a symbolic place."

Have your say

In the readers' vote 51 per cent were in favour of funeral webcasts with 49 per cent against.

What do you think?

Would you like the opportunity to watch a loved-one's funeral on the internet?

Share your views, comment in the space below or:

Email: letters@worthingherald.co.uk

Write to: Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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