The bereaved could soon be ordering cube-shaped gravestones to remember their loved ones.

The size of the headstones at the proposed burial ground in Jane Murray Way, Burgess Hill, has been restricted to 75cm high.

It means relatives who want more elaborate designs, such as sarcophaguses and ornate carved figures, will have to go elsewhere.

The maximum dimensions for headstones are 75cm high, 60cm wide and 60cm in depth, which means people could have a cube for a gravestone.

The site, which is a farmer's field surrounded by mature hedges and trees, has been given planning permission and the details, such as the dimensions of the gravestones, are now being considered for approval.

The proposed burial ground will be hidden from residential properties and it is hoped will alleviate the chronic shortage of space for burials in Burgess Hill Richard Walker, chief planning officer of Mid Sussex District Council, said: "This is an area that is very important to the people of Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint because it is a green crescent and it is a real exception allowing any sort of development.

The idea is to give little appearance of building. There was a move to have green burials with no headstones but things can get into a bit of a mess."

He preferred not to comment on the size of gravestones.

Councillor Peter Martin said: "I think the intention is to keep it low profile in terms of gravestones, due to its sensitive location, and make it something a little more controlled, not that one wants to interfere too much on what people provide on gravestones for their loved ones.

"We just want people who bury their loved ones in Burgess Hill to follow some guidelines."

A decision on details to do with the new burial ground will be taken at a meeting of Mid Sussex South Area Planning Committee today at 7pm in The Apex Suite, The Triangle, Burgess Hill.