It's official you're not allowed to die in Sarpourenx, Gerard Lalanne the Mayor of this small village in Southwest France has threatened his residents with what must be a fate worse than death should any of them dare to die in his village.

During a council office ordinance, Lalanne told his 260 residents "all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish." he went on to add that offenders would be "severely punished" if they broke the new law.

The problem is that the cemetery in Sarpourenx has simply run out of space and French administration won't allow Lalanne to extend the plot by obtaining privately owned land adjacent to the cemetery so with no room left Lalanne felt that banning death was his only option.

Mr Lalanne who is 70 said that he could not see the humour in his new law and told reporters that "it may be a laughing matter for some, but not for me".

Quote this article on your site