BEREAVED families have been helping people fight illness from beyond the grave with a final gift from dead relatives.

The Mayor of Dudley’s charity fund is £3,400 better off after donations through the national Crematorium Metals Recycling Scheme.

After getting written permission from family members the council recovers metals from cremated remains and recycles the high value raw materials.

Metals which can survive the 1,000 degree temperatures of cremation include steel, titanium and cobalt-chrome.

The metal has a variety of uses within the body from replacement hips to skull plates and knee caps.

Around 260 British crematoria are signed up for the recycling scheme which recovers around 75 tonnes of scrap each year.

In Dudley cash from the not-for-profit scheme will be divided between one of the mayor’s chosen charities, Cancer Support, The White House, and the national charity The Teenage Cancer Trust.

Councillor Tracy Wood, Dudley cabinet member for the environment and culture, said: "Over the last three years, Dudley has subscribed to the not-for-profit recycling scheme for metals recovered from the cremation process.

“Recycling metals resulting from cremation is only carried out with the written consent of each bereaved family and with thanks to all those families who agreed to the scheme we have been able to raise £3,400.”

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Alan Finch, said: “I am happy we are able to help charities through this innovative scheme. This money will be a huge help to two very worthwhile causes.”