Hundreds of graves are now being reused because of a shortage of burial space, an investigation by The Times has found.

Four London councils are “reclaiming” graves more than 75 years old. A further 11 say that they may consider the practice because of the scarcity of land in towns.

Laws governing London allow its local authorities to repossess neglected cemetery plots, remove tombstones and bury new coffins above existing remains, provided that they have sought the approval of the family of the deceased.

At the City of London cemetery, the largest enclosed cemetery in the country, officials have reclaimed 1,000 graves over the past three years. Last year 650 graves in West Ham cemetery, Newham, were appropriated for future use.

Cemetery directors say that successive governments have shied away from the issue of reusing graves for fear of alienating voters who object to the dead being disturbed.

Julie Rugg, the director of the Cemetery Research Group at the University of York, said: “I think people are pragmatic. We’re not talking about digging up your granny tomorrow, we’re talking about reusing graves often from more than 100 years ago.”

In the capital, Sutton and Newham have begun reclaiming burial plots. Other London boroughs say that they have only a few years’ burial space left; Hackney and Tower Hamlets say that they have none.

Under the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1976, reclaiming graves in Greater London is legal as long as the “rights of interment” have not been exercised for 75 years.

Outside London, under the Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977, local authorities may reclaim unused plots but not for additional burials.

Members of the funeral industry say that time is running out for the Government to change the law. At present a new coffin must be at least 6in (15cm) above an existing one but at least 2ft (61cm) below ground. Cemetery officials want legislation to let them dig up a previous coffin, reduce its size and bury it more deeply, freeing more space.

In the absence of new laws, the City of London cemetery runs a popular scheme that allows reuse of old gravestones. The newly interred’s details are inscribed on the reverse. Other cemeteries move old tombstones, leaving a small marker as a reference.

Ian Hussein, director of the City of London cemetery, said: “Nationally, 74 per cent of people are cremated. In London that is nearer to 80 per cent, but nearly all cemeteries still have a problem with available land. My advice would be to go and reserve your grave now.”

A spokesman for Cardiff Council said: “In the broadest sense, burial space is something that is of concern to all towns and cities in the UK. In some cemeteries we have twenty to twenty-five years of space left and in others we have only two to three. It will be a question of filling the spaces where we can.”

Last year, Harriet Harman, the Constitutional Affairs Minister, indicated her support for reuse. A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said: “Ministers have said they are sympathetic towards the arguments in favour of reuse but that any changes would need to be introduced sensitively and a balance struck between the interests of families and the needs of the wider community.” Additional reporting: Anna Hutton

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