‘Sobering’ temporary mortuary set up in London with space for 1,300 bodies amid surge in deaths

A temporary mortuary has been built in London as the capital grapples with a surge in Covid-19 deaths.

The facility in Ruislip, north west London, was erected in one week and will hold 1,300 bodies when operating at full capacity later this month.

It will cater for the entire city and provide 20 per cent additional capacity for public mortuaries, officials said.

The mortuary is expected to start receiving bodies on Friday.

Some 10,500 people have died from Covid-19 in London since the pandemic hit the UK in March, official figures show.

Some 1,000  deaths were announced in London in the week ending 13 January. This compares with just under 800 logged in the previous week, according to data published by City Hall.

Westminster City Council chief executive Stuart Love, who is leading the pan-London response, said councils worked with faith communities in the capital to ensure all religious requirements were met.

"We really hope it doesn't come to that," he said when asked if he thought the mortuary could become full.

"From my point of view, we have built this really hoping it doesn't get used to its capacity."

Mr Love added: "This really is a visual, sobering reminder that we are still in the midst of a severe pandemic. We want to give people hope but we are not there yet.

"This just re-emphasises the message of staying at home and looking after your loved ones."

The entire Ruislip site, made up of tented facilities with refrigeration units, has cost £3.2m, with the total expected to reach £4m by March, according to Mr Love.

It is the latest of a number of temporary mortuaries set up across the country, including in Leatherhead, Surrey, and at a former aircraft hangar at RAF Coltishall, north-east of Norwich.