FOR more than 40 years, Second World War veteran David Hunt believed his final resting place would be at a church just a stone’s throw from his home.

The 83-year-old and his 56-year-old wife Wendy also specified All Saints Church in Didcot as their final resting places in their funeral plans eight years ago.

But now the couple from Cronshaw Close have discovered there are only two dozen burial plots left and fear their plans are in tatters.

Mr Hunt, who moved to Didcot in 1964, has called on officials to convert another section of the churchyard for burials.

Mr Hunt, who served with the Royal Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic, said: “I’m very upset.

“We were always going to buried together up there. I thought I knew where I was going to be.

“Now I’ve found out the horrible truth.

“I feel I’ve got to hurry up and die if I want to go there, but I don’t feel I’m ready yet.

“Some people will say it doesn’t matter where you are buried, but it does to me.”

The couple believe the unused section of the churchyard should be used in future.

Mrs Hunt said: “If there’s a flu epidemic this winter, that will be all the spare graves gone.

“I feel very sure that whatever ground they have at the church should be used for burials.”

But Archdeacon Norman Russell said: “It is up to the Parochial Church Council what they feel they should do with that land.

“It is an open space in a conservation area, and any change of use would require planning permission.

“At the moment, I don’t believe they plan to do anything with it except use it as an open space.

“We cannot just respond to individuals.”

The rector of All Saints, the Rev Karen Beck, added: “A number of people are affected, including parishionsers living in All Saints parish and regular churchgoers.

“Unfortunately, once the churchyard gets full, there won’t be an extension to it.”

Once the 24 remaining plots are filled, parishioners will be buried at the municipal cemetery at Kynaston Road.