There are 3,819 people on the waiting list for a grave at the Addolorata Cemetery - a thousand more than the graves to be dug up.

Social Policy Minister John Dalli told Labour MP Silvio Parnis yesterday that 2,782 graves were being dug up. Letters were sent to the applicants on the top of the list asking them whether they were still interested in buying a grave.

The plans were that once the work started, those eligible ve would be sent for and the necessary documents drawn up for the contract. No contract had yet been signed with anyone.