FAMILY-run Bewley Funeral Directors in Melksham have won the funeral planners of the year for the west of England award for the fourth year running.

The award, from Golden Charter, was handed out during a ceremony at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel in Cardiff by television personality Sian Lloyd.

Funeral director Ryan Bewley said: “It is incredible, we have just seen more growth and more people are aware of funeral planning.

“People used to shy away from the topic but now people are a little bit more forthright with it and just like to set it all up early.

“We had one woman come in when she was in her thirties to get her funeral plan sorted.

“We have done loads of basic funerals but we have also done a few strange ones in our time as well. We have done them with a vintage lorry hearse when the coffin would go on the back."

Bewley Funeral Directors, owned by Patrik Bewley, was set up 46 years ago, and is jointly run by his daughter Krystle and son Ryan.

Mr Bewley added: “We are very happy and hopefully we will win it again next year. It was all a team effort and we all work well together.

"The award is very well recognised in the industry and to win it once was brilliant but to win it again and again was just great."

For more information visit www.djbewley.co.uk.