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Grieving relatives can hire "professional mourners" to make their loved-ones seem more popular.

Professional mourners are paid to turn on the waterworks at the funerals of people they don't know.

Essex-based Rent A Mourner costs just £45-a-hour for bereaved families who need more funeral attendees.

Founded by Ian Robinson in 2013, the company states on its website that workers are "typically invited to help increase visitors to funerals where there may be a low turnout expected".

"This can usually be a popularity issue or being new to an area, or indeed, the country. We have a significant amount of mourners to call upon when the need arises."

Types of booking can vary, as agents may attend the full church and crematorium service or make a cameo mourning appearance at wakes.

For those interested in booking the services of an "agent", you will first have a consultation meeting to agree on details.

To convincingly execute the role, agents build up a back story of their relation to the deceased, as well as memorising facts and stories concerning the family's loved one.

The website continues: "We will work closely with you to discuss our role when attending the service or wake.

"We will create a strategy for how we should behave and integrate with other people during the ceremony or wake.

"At all times we will be professional and discreet. We will not deviate from your wishes."

The job of a professional mourner demands versatility, with some needing to develop unconventional skills as part of their performance.

One mourner told The Sun Online: “Because so many different kinds of people die, I need to take on a number of different characters.

“One time, I needed to learn some archery, because I was supposed to arrive as a deceased archery teacher's former protégé - and there was a chance I'd actually have to fire off arrows.”

The best-documented case of the profession derives from Ancient Rome - where funerals were marked by how extravagant they were.

The wealthy could afford musicians and mimes, while poorer citizens could only muster enough for a few flute players.