Angry church leaders say they are being forced to keep one eye on the clock while performing funeral services in Crawley.

Managers at the Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, in Balcombe Road, sent a letter to funeral directors reminding them of the company's policy on timing.

It states that only 23 minutes of a half-hour service is for the service itself because staff need seven minutes to put back hymn books.

At £345, this makes it almost £15 a minute for the final farewell.

Families can only get more time to pay their last respects by booking an extra slot for a further £170.

By comparison, a 45-minute slot at Downs Crematorium in Brighton, run by the same company, costs £240.

Members of the clergy and funeral directors are enraged, saying the policy is disrespectful and they fear heaping extra costs on the grieving families if services over-run.

The letter, written by crematorium manager Nigel Emberson, states: "In either chapel a maximum of 23 minutes is allowed, allowing seven minutes for the hymn books to be replaced and the door sheets to be changed.

"The Crematorium is not responsible for the late running of services caused by ministers, funeral directors or mourners arriving late."

The Rev Doris Stanniford, of St Albans, Crawley, said: "This is not respecting the grief of the families. It only takes one old woman walking very slowly with sticks and you're up the gum tree really.

"Last week, I took a service at the crematorium with over 100 people. Even though it was just a committal it was a struggle just to get people in and out in that time. I have to keep my eye on the clock all the time.

"Every service is different as people react differently when they are grieving. Forty-five minutes seems a sensible time. It may mean a loss of revenue for the company but that's tough."

The Rev Laurence Quin Morris of St James' Church, Redhill, said: "It isn't enough time to respectfully remember, give thanks and show grief.

"Families need time to express something of their loss. The best thing for families is to come to a church as there is no limit on time there, but nowadays people often don't want to. I understand they have to run a business but there are other ways of doing it."

Colin Field runs the Traditional Family Funeral Company, based in Ardingly.

He wants to start a campaign on behalf of families to see services lengthened to 45 minutes.

He said: "When I got the letter I saw red. I am disgusted at these proposals - they are devoid of feeling. Families aren't being put first."

Crematorium manager Mr Emerson said: "Nothing has changed. The half-hour services run back-to-back and we have always needed time to put books back and get the chapel ready.

"The reason the letter went out was because funeral directors were taking too long and overrunning. We get a lot of complaints if the chapel is not as it should be.

"Because of the volume of cremations we do it would not be practical to change to 45 minutes but that doesn't rule out a change in the future."