FUNERAL director James Showers wants crematorium chapels to install online film cameras so family can pay their respects from the other side of the world.

The Stroud businessman says many relatives miss playing a part in a loved one's service because it is impractical or too expensive for them to fly back to Britain or travel long distances across the country.

Mr Showers, who runs Family Tree Funeral Company, says password-protected footage of services could be posted on the internet for families to say their farewells.

He says DVDs could also be sent to servicemen and woman on the frontline in Afghanistan or be kept by relatives as a permanent record of the service.

The system Mr Showers is suggesting involves a small camera linked to the net at the back of the chapel. This would allow the service to be streamed live.

"Families are increasingly scattered and separated by distance or by busy schedules," said Mr Showers, who is based at The Old Painswick Inn in Gloucester Street, Stroud.

"Others are just unable to travel, such as our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, so this technology makes it possible to gather scattered mourners into one community and enable them to attend."

He added: "I believe we have a duty to identify and embrace new ideas if they serve a family looking to give their loved one a more personal and meaningful farewell."

Filming would cost around £50 and online security would be kept in the hands of the individual family because they would have passwords to access the funeral from their computers at home or abroad.

Mr Showers has contacted crematoria at Westerleigh near Bristol, Yew Tree Brake in the Forest of Dean, Kingsdown in Swindon, Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Only Westerleigh has the £15,000 Wesley Music System needed for live streaming of funerals on the internet.

Mr Showers said he had spoken to each crematorium about the possibility of making the option available.

"Westerleigh, I think, is going to do it, although not immediately," he said.

"Cheltenham is looking at it but says it's too expensive. Gloucester is looking at it but is run by the council and Forest of Dean thought it was too expensive."

He added: "While funeral professionals are a pretty conservative lot, we should do our best not to leave anyone out if the technology is there to include them."

Richard Evans, managing director of the nationwide Westerleigh Group of crematoria, said he expected funeral filming would be available within the year.

He said: "All the time, choices and options for people relating to funerals are changing. This is one of the ways we're trying to keep up with expectations."