Ashes of Stephen Hawking to be buried near Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin

The ashes of Professor Stephen Hawking will be interred at Westminster Abbey near the grave of Isaac Newton during a thanksgiving service later this year, a spokesman for the abbey said.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: "It is entirely fitting that the remains of Professor Stephen Hawking are to be buried in the Abbey, near those of distinguished fellow scientists.