Oxfordshire is facing a grave shortage of burial spots as cemeteries fast approach capacity.

Half of Oxford's cemeteries are already full and unless more space can be found, the city could run out of burial places in 12 years.

Meanwhile, town and parish councils across the county face a severe shortage of plots, meaning they may soon have to tell grieving relatives to inter their loved ones in Oxford, adding to the squeeze.

Cumnor Parish Council only has two spots remaining at its 191-plot cemetery in St Michael's Church in High Street, so relatives may soon have to pay five times more to bury their loved ones in Oxford.

At present, the council charges parishioners a £184 interment fee in an earthen grave, but Oxford City Council charges £435 - and doubles that fee to £870 for non-city residents.

The parish council is now in discussions with Oxford University about buying a plot of land in Tilbury Lane where the university was given outline permission to build 99 houses and 55 flats in January, on land split between Cumnor and North Hinksey.

Parish council chairman Philip Hawtin said: "It would be incredibly upsetting for someone's family if they were told they couldn't bury a family member here.

"For the first time in a thousand years, it wouldn't be possible for someone who dies in the parish to be buried in the parish.

"If it wasn't for the fact the majority of the population now opt for cremation, the situation would be impossible.

"We haven't got any other land. The most likely thing is if we run out of spots, burials would have to take place in adjacent areas - almost certainly in Oxford city."

The Rev Brian Stops said: "It's essential for us to find somewhere else in the parish because it would cause considerable distress if people found their loved ones could not be buried here."

Last year, Bicester Town Council decided to ban people from reserving spots in its cemetery after discovering only 200 plots were left.

Council leader Debbie Pickford said: "I'm very concerned we won't be able to find a new plot of land to bury people before we run out of space."

West Oxfordshire District Council spokesman Samantha Simpson said: "In our towns particularly, most church yards are now full or approaching maximum capacity and land is hard to come by."

Oxford city councillor Bob Timbs, board member for leisure and sport, said: "This is one of my top priorities now because we don't want to run out of space. We're looking at possible new locations, but the first step is to try and extend an existing cemetery because all the pathways and infrastructure is in place.

"Wolvercote would seem the most logical place because of its rural nature."