A NEW site for a cemetery in Tranent is being investigated after plans to extend the current burial grounds were dropped.

East Lothian Council had been looking into extending Tranent Cemetery onto land to its west after it was identified as being close to capacity.

But at a virtual meeting of the council’s audit and governance committee, Tom Reid, head of infrastructure, revealed that a new site was now being sought.

Mr Reid said: “We had identified a site but it did not work. We are looking at land deals for Tranent and taking forward an alternative site.”

A council spokesperson confirmed the change, adding: “We are exploring and evaluating all options but are constrained by ground conditions and land availability.”