The planning authority has approved an extension of 495 graves in St Mary’s Cemetery, Xewkija, 10 per cent of which will be allocated as common graves.

The permit renews two requests to extend the cemetery, one filed in 1996 and the other in 2003, after these expired because the works were never carried out.

At least one Cypress tree for every five burial plots has to be planted and the extension must also satisfy the standards imposed by the disability commission.