Burials will be delayed for a whole week due to a changeover in contractors used by Enfield Council.

The council announced in a tweet on Tuesday (September 18) that burials will be unavailable for seven days from the start of October due to “contractual changes and health and safety precautions”.

It claims the restrictions to the normal service are necessary to ensure the switch is made quickly and safely.

But Conservative group leader Councillor Joanne Laban branded the situation “shockingly bad” and blasted the council for “failing to organise a seamless handover”.

She said: “It is shockingly bad to make people wait another seven days to bury their relatives during what is a very distressing time.

“What does Enfield Council expect our hospitals to do as well – postpone any deaths leading up to the beginning of October so it fits in with its handover?

“If Enfield Council cannot manage a simple contract handover like this, it really is a council in chaos.”

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment Cllr Guney Dogan said the council would look to accommodate the wishes of families unable to accept a delay.

He said: “As the current contract ends and we change from one contractor to another, there will be a complex transition that involves the removal and changeover of equipment and vehicles and possibly other unavoidable interferences in the service which will cause a degree of disruption.

“To facilitate this process, we will therefore be restricting the normal services available at the cemeteries so the switchover can be made quickly and safely.

“We are aware there are many reasons why families may not be prepared to accept a delay, and in these cases we are happy to be as flexible as possible so that families can grieve their loss at a time and a place of their choosing.

“Anyone who would like to proceed with a burial should contact our bereavement team so they can discuss their options. We are sorry for any inconvenience that has been caused.

“Enfield Council is committed to provide the best and most respectful level of service for its residents and for the long-term benefit of our communities.”