Coronavirus: Halifax's Shay Stadium in temporary morgue plan

The council said the stadium was identified as the most "appropriate location"

A football stadium in Halifax could be turned into a temporary morgue amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Preparations are being made to use the Shay Stadium if the number of funerals and cremations in Calderdale exceed what the borough can cope with.

The stadium is owned by Calderdale Council and is ordinarily used by FC Halifax Town and Halifax RLFC.

Andrew Pitts, of the authority, said it was hoped they would not need to implement the plans.

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Mr Pitts, assistant director for neighbourhoods, said the council had a "statutory responsibility" to plan for any potential increase in deaths and the stadium had been identified as the "most appropriate location for this purpose", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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The council said it was also using some buildings for other than their normal roles to help its response to the outbreak.

North Bridge Leisure Centre, also in Halifax, is being used as the distribution centre for food for vulnerable residents in Calderdale.

Plans have been announced for temporary morgues elsewhere across the country, including one for up to 12,000 bodies at Birmingham Airport and one at a former RAF base in Lincolnshire.