THE first dedicated Nepalese Gurkha burial site in London is to formally open in Hillingdon on Tuesday.

It will be near the Peace Memorial Garden in Cherry Lane Cemetery, West Drayton. There is space for up to 100 graves, in addition to 30 column burial units, which will house ashes.

A dedication plaque will be unveiled by the Mayor, Cllr Catherine Dann, and more than 150 members of the Nepalese community are expected to attend.

Council leader Ray Puddifoot said: "We wanted to acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices that Gurkhas have made for this country and, as Hillingdon Council commemorates the World War One centenary, it seemed like the right time for us to do this."

In 2009, all retired Gurkhas won the right to live in the UK following a campaign led by actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the 6th Gurkha Rifles.