A bereaved man was "incensed" after he was charged almost £2000 to bury his brother - around £1500 more than national average.

East Dunbartonshire Council charged Roderick Campbell six times what neighbouring councils would charge for a similar burial.

Mr Campbell buried his brother in New Kilpatrick Cemetery in Bearsden,  - his dying wish - where both his parents were buried in the family lair.

He was asked to pay £1791, which covered the burial of a casket containing cremated remains (£597) of a non-resident of the council (£597 surcharge) on a Saturday (additional £597 surcharge).

At present there are four councils in Scotland that charge more than £400 for the burial of cremated remains of a non-resident on a Saturday.

East Dunbartonshire charges 20 times more than the cheapest council, which was Inverclyde at £89.

The same burial costs £258 in West Dunbartonshire, £223 in North Lanarkshire and £269 in Glasgow.

Green: Up to £249

Orange: £250 to £399

Red: More than £400

Average council cost: £323.17

Variations in burial costs occur in neighbouring councils across Scotland - £578 in Aberdeenshire compared to £136 in Aberdeen City for instance - but none are so vast compared to the discrepancy in the west.

East Dunbartonshire Council said the costs are the result of "budget challenges" and "lack of space".

Like many other local authorities, it claimed the increase in cemetery charges are to preserve frontline services for the most vulnerable.

"I'm absolutely incensed by the whole thing," said Mr Campbell. "There is work involved, yes, but the work involved is nowhere near commensurate with the charges."

It is a view shared by the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), which said the council's reasoning behind the costs are hard to believe.

NAFD's Paul Culthell said he would expect cemetery space to be "readily available" in most councils with the exception of city areas.