'Very few' plan for their funeral

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Few people make plans for their funeral despite most of them thinking it would be a good idea, according to a report.

Some 9% of those aged over 55 had put arrangements in place, the study of 850 people for researchers Mintel found.

However, the report discovered seven out of 10 adults thought planning their own funeral would benefit loved ones.

Just 3% of the over 55s have sorted out the finances for a funeral, although 54% thought pre-payment for the event was a good idea.

'Formal planning'

The report predicted the UK would follow countries such as the US and Belgium where pre-payment is becoming increasingly popular.

Katy Child, senior market analyst at Mintel, said: "Although there is a good deal of informal planning of funerals and most consumers like the idea of arranging or pre-paying their funeral, this is rarely translated into formal planning of the event."

The report, based on interviews carried out in October, found 54% of adults wanted to be cremated, and 36% favoured burial.

Some £1.3bn was spent on funerals in the UK in 2006, which was almost 10% up on the previous year.