Up to 1,000 bodies could be stored at a site in Trafford Park under emergency coronavirus plans being drawn up by Greater Manchester officials.
The facility - which would not technically be a mortuary, as post mortem examinations will not be carried out there - is intended to be ready ‘as soon as possible’, it is understood.
However insiders said it was only being set up as contingency in case existing mortuaries across the region were unable to cope with a surge in deaths, stressing that it may not be needed.
Government has asked all local areas to identify suitable sites for such a facility as part of the national planning around coronavirus, which includes preparing for tens of thousands more deaths than would normally be recorded in