Pembrokeshire County Council is the first Welsh local authority to add its burial and cremation records to a family history website.

All burial and cremation records for the county council have been digitised and added to the specialist website http://www.deceasedonline.com">www.deceasedonline.com

The move forms part of the county council's ongoing improvements to provide enhanced internet facilities to the public.

The digitised records are for all 11 cemeteries and Parc Gwyn Crematorium at Narberth which is managed by the authority.

The cemeteries are: Llanion, Pembroke Dock; City Road, Haverfordwest; Llanwnda, Goodwick; St Michaels, Pembroke; Monkton, Pembroke; Freystrop; St. Ishmaels; Llangwm; Nolton; Nolton Haven; Llanfair Nant-y-gof Cemetery, Trecwn; and Rosemarket Cemetery.

They comprise: records dating as far back as 1869; digital scans of cremation registers (1968-1999); computerised records for all remaining sites (and post-1999 for the crematorium); grave details indicating all those buried within each grave.

In addition, the council will soon be able to offer maps indicating the section of a cemetery or burial ground where graves are located and photographs of memorials within the 11 cemeteries.

"We are committed to improving and developing our local, cultural, and family history resources, while preserving our old, original documents" said Clr. Huw George, the council cabinet member for environmental and regulatory services.

Under statutory legislation, burial and cremation records need to be managed and preserved by all local authorities, so their digitisation and online availability means that the council has protected the records for future access and for staff administration.

Deceased Online has a wide range of records, with the aim of enabling researchers to find out where their ancestors died, or were buried or cremated. Researchers are able to access the records 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

To search these records, please visit http://www.deceasedonline.com">www.deceasedonline.com