A contract to remove bodies on behalf of the coroner is about to go up for tender.

Cambridgeshire County Council has advertised for businesses to open tender for the three-year contract which begins on April 1 this year and runs out on March 31 2018.

In Cambridgeshire bodies are currently removed to Addenbrooke’s, Papworth or Peterborough Hospitals during mortuary opening hours.

Out of mortuary opening hours most cases are removed back to the supplier’s own premises and moved to the mortuary in due course when required. There are circumstances where the supplier may be required to collect bodies from out of the county or transport them out of county.

In the event of a catastrophe the bodies will be taken to a centre in accordance with the county council emergency or pandemic plans in place at the time.

The council is looking to split the contract into four geographical lots and potential providers are invited to tender for one or more of them.

The contract is extendable for a further year up to a maximum period of four years for the removal of bodies where a death has been referred to H.M. Coroner.