Dignity to close dozens of sites

ONE of the country’s biggest funeral providers plans to close dozens of branches in an overhaul aimed at keeping costs low amid fierce competition in the market, writes Jack Torrance.

Mike Mccollum, Dignity’s chief executive, said about

100 of its 800 funeral parlours could disappear over the next 10 years.

It plans to invest £50m in the shake-up but expects the changes to generate £8m in annual savings by 2022, ris- ing to £13m in the long term. Shares rose 3.9pc to £10.51.