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A new “state-of-the-art” crematorium has opened in Pontllanfraith.

The Sirhowy Valley Crematorium, which is located off Sirhowy Enterprise Way, is the only crematorium in Caerphilly County Borough.

The crematorium will hold around 1,300 funerals a year and will serve around 150,000 people in the local community.

The crematorium also has a place for floral tributes and a maintained memorial garden.

Live webcasts will be available with the option of visual tributes and an almost unlimited music library.

Before it opened, the nearest crematoriums for many people living in Caerphilly County Borough were Cwmbran, Newport, Thornhill, Glyntaff and Llwydcoed.

Bristol-based developers Westerleigh Group, which built and manages the crematorium, has 35 crematoriums across the UK, with three in Wales – including Newport’s Langstone Vale Crematorium.

Kevin Davies, regional manager at Westerleigh, said: “Prior to Sirhowy Valley Crematorium opening, the nearest alternatives were all more than ten miles away, and journeys take over 30 minutes in a funeral cortege.”

This article was updated to include Glyntaff and Llwydcoed.