EIGHT Scottish crematoriums have joined a scheme to recycle metal body parts such as pins and hip joints left over once people's remains have been disposed of.

The 'ashes-to-cashes' scheme sees the metal items collected by magnets after cremation and used to make everyday things such as street lamps and car parts.

More than two tons of metal was salvaged from crematoriums at South Lanarkshire, Dunfermline, Kircaldy, Perth, Glasgow Craigton, Edinburgh, Seafield, Edinburgh Warriston, and Masonhill in Ayrshire in 2013.

The recycling scheme is run by Dutch company Orthometals. Founder Ruud Verberne said: "I hope in the future that others will be convinced that it is better to give this metal to us than throw it away."

ends