The East of England Co-op has signed up all 47 of its funeral branches across the region to the Fair Funeral Pledge.

It is the largest single sign-up to date under the scheme which was launched by anti-poverty charity Quaker Social Action in 2014.

The campaign encourages businesses to make the most affordable funeral package visible to the public, communicating prices in initial conversations and prominently displaying full price lists.

It aims to tackle funeral poverty at its root, on the basis that anyone grieving the loss of a loved-one deserves an equal opportunity to arrange a meaningful, affordable funeral. The pledge ensures customers are given the best advice available at a time when they may be at their most vulnerable.

Andrew Dawes, head of specialist services at the East of England Co-op, said: “The East of England Co-op has long championed transparency of pricing for funerals, and ensuring that a dignified funeral service is available to all.

“We recognise the rising importance of funeral costs to those who use our services, and our need to ensure that we have a range of professional options tailored to those whose financial means may be limited.

“The transparency and openness of the pledge matches the co-operative principles that our business is built on and we feel very proud to support the Fair Funeral campaign.”