Land next to Epsom Cemetery could now be subject to a compulsory purchase order, after the council approved the measure in principle.

The order would only be made as a last resort, if an agreement with the landowner over how to value the land cannot be reached.

There are 3.69 acres next to the cemetery, which the council wants to extend, that are currently used for grazing horses.

The landowner wants the land valued as a commercial graveyard, but the council expected the land to have an “open market value”.

A council spokesman described the extension as “necessary”, as the cemetery is approaching capacity.

Current discussions have been ongoing for more than a year.