Dignity’s winter grief

A Sharp drop in the number of deaths so far this year has hit profits at funeral services firm Dignity.

Official figures show 159,000 people died in the first quarter – down 12pc on the same period last year.

The decrease – which the firm said was ‘significantly lower than expected’ – was put down to a mild winter, including a particularly warm February.

Its revenues fell 15pc to £81m in the first quarter. The company said it believes full-year profits will fall by as much as £4m.

Previously it had forecast profits of £68m and revenues of £307m.

Dignity carried out 19,200 funerals in total between January and March, down from 21,400 last year. however, its share of the market increased slightly from 11.7pc to 12pc after a price war started by rival, the Co-op.