"It's completely fictitious - the most absurd suggestion I've yet heard, " stormed Ulster Unionist member Jim Rodgers.

And he should know - as chairman of the city council's parks and cemeteries sub-committee.

"I honestly can't believe anyone took this report seriously," he said.

"It's utter nonsense. It has never been discussed and has never even been on our agenda.

"It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious."

Mr Rodgers also denounced suggestions that the council is to pay £1.7m for a new plot of land in order to create additional graves for victims of a possible flu pandemic.

He said: "This development has nothing to do with any pandemic outbreak.

"It's long been recognised that there is a shortage of graves at Roselawn. We are hoping to acquire some 28 acres of land which will give us an additional nine years of burial sites."

He added: "What really concerns me is any suggestion that the council is about to start an incentive scheme or pay funeral directors to persuade grieving families they should opt to cremate a loved-one.

"Our view has always been that bereaved families have, and as far as I'm concerned always will have, the option of burial or cremation.

"I've had a queue of funeral directors on the phone for the past 24 hours demanding to know what incentives we are offering.

"I've had to tell them there are none - the issue isn't even up for discussion.

"Unfortunately, some people have got the wrong end of the stick.

"Reports of incentives are utter nonsense. It's wrong, misleading and wholly inaccurate."

Last year, cremations in Northern Ireland accounted for around 16.8pc of all deaths compared to 28pc in England and Wales.