Graves across Oxfordshire could be the next recycling target in a bid to ease pressure on burial space.

Some cemeteries in the county, including Oxford, Didcot and Abingdon, will be full in 10 years time and reusing burial plots is one option being examined.

In Bicester, the situation is more acute and space could be full by as early as next spring.

Reusing plots is the latest idea from the Government. Graves more than 100 years old could be reopened for further burial.

However, funeral directors fear the idea would upset some families.

Sandra Homewood, a partner at S and R Childs Funeral Services in London Road, Oxford, said: "The old saying is an Englishman's home is his castle and when you get buried that is your own little castle forever."

Two of Oxford's four cemeteries are already closed to new burials and space at the other two is predicted to run out by 2018.

No new plots are available at Rose Hill and Headington, and Oxford City Council officials predict Wolvercote will be full by 2013 and Botley will be full by 2018.

The council is now considering reopening graves over a century old, although city cemeteries manager Trevor Jackson stressed no decision had yet been taken.

Funeral directors in the city said the idea might not be welcomed by residents and descendants of those buried in local cemeteries.

Ms Homewood said: "My personal view is if the family or descendants are still in the area it could still be distressing.

"They wouldn't want to think their loved one was sharing a grave with a stranger."

Canon Brian Mountford, of St Mary the Virgin Church, High Street, said he had no theological objection to the plan.

But he said individual faith and family sensitivity could be a concern.

He added: "Anyone who believes in physical resurrection would hold a very different view, and there would be particular religious sensitivities."

Justice Minister Harriet Harman said that if councils were given the go-ahead to reuse graves, it would only be allowed if the burial had taken place more than 100 years ago.

Families would have the right to defer reuse for a generation.

Bicester Town Council leader Debbie Pickford said the council's cemetery consultants would look at reusing graves. Earlier this year, it considered building an above-ground cemetery to tackle the crisis.

Abingdon Town Council predicts its two cemeteries will be full in 10 to 12 years.

But project and technical manager Stephen Rich said reusing graves could prove legally difficult, and the council's preferred option was likely to be a new cemetery.

Didcot Town Council estimates its cemetery in Glebe Road will be full within 10 to 15 years.

Witney Town Council opened a new nine-acre cemetery at Oxford Hill in 2004, which it hopes will serve the town for another 100 years.

South Oxfordshire District Council said space at Wallingford Cemetery would run out within the next two years, but it was looking at extending the site. It said it was not considering reusing graves.