Stockport funeral planners Pride Planning are now accepting BitCoin.

The move is a first in the funeral industry as Pride Planning looks at ways to innovate for its customers.

BitCoin is a ‘cryptocurrency’ – a form of digital currency that is created and held electronically. Only 21 million will ever be created.

Customers will be offered the option to pay with BitCoin on the payment pagre on the Pride Planning website.

Mike Noblett, CEO at Pride Planning, said: “We are living in a digital age with new digital currencies and ways to pay.

“We want to be innovators in funeral planning and ways to pay – BitCoin is a fast and secure payment method with an ever accelerating value.”

Pride Planning, based in Stockport town centre, recently announced a turnover of £2.6m in their second year and are on track for £6-7m for 2017/18.

It offers a variety of pre-planned funeral packages and payment plans.

Co-owner Adam Deering added: “Planning a funeral can be a particularly difficult time – we aim to take away the stress by assisting every step of the way.

“Pride Planning has a variety of prepaid funeral plans available which vary in price based on requirements and budget.”

Customers also benefit from the Pride Discount Club and can get money-off offers from a number of retailers including Apple, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer.