Disturbing pictures show empty hangars at a former RAF Upper Heyford transformed into a temporary mortuary for 1,200 of UK's coronavirus dead (10 Pics)

Two aircraft hangers at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire have been converted into an expansive mortuary, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The airbase in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, was home to the Bomber Command during the Second World War but closed in 1993 - it is now to become one of several temporary mortuaries for the bodies of coronavirus victims. 

Currently empty, the hangers, which could hold up to 600 corpses each, will only be used if regular systems are unable to cope with the number of dead.     

Two aircraft hangers at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire have been converted into an expansive mortuary, amid the coronavirus pandemic

Work is also ready to start on two further hangars and five more are on standby if the death toll spirals - bringing the total capacity to 5,400.

The racking includes smaller shelves to accommodate the bodies of children, according to a worker.

Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed that a temporary mortuary is being set up at the former RAF base to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 'Two hangars have been done already and two more are on the way, with 600 bodies per hangar.

Chilling images and footage shows shelves ready to hold bodies of adult and CHILD coronavirus victims in a temporary morgue erected at a military base

'It is for storage for bodies infected with coronavirus and they'll be in body bags and laid on the shelves.

'It is strange working there, everyone is keeping their distance and wearing masks.

'It's a little bit odd, you can either laugh or cry, but you've just got to do your work.

'What's strange is there are different size shelves for children and adults. It can be a little bit crazy.

'The work initially started last Friday and it finished yesterday.

Currently empty, the hangers, which could hold up to 600 corpses each, will only be used if regular systems are unable to cope with the number of dead

A worker said: 'It is for storage for bodies infected with coronavirus and they'll be in body bags and laid on the shelves

'As of Monday they can start putting bodies in.

'Undertakers and NHS staff are refusing to touch the bodies so they have got the military in, who'll be taking the bodies in rental vans.

'There are quite a few rows of Enterprise rental vans there.

'I think there are about 10 scaffolders, a few carpenters and three or four electricians.

'There are another two hangars and they are going to wait and see if the numbers keep growing.

'They are cleared and ready to go. There are another five which can be got ready if needs be. They'd each hold 600 bodies.' 

The county of Oxfordshire has 356 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 33 deaths as of Friday

Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement: 'In common with all other areas of the country there are longstanding contingency plans to provide extra mortuary space during emergency situations.

'Partners from organisations including the NHS, registration services, coroner's office and local authorities have been meeting regularly to consider requirements that may be placed upon Oxfordshire during the Coronavirus outbreak.

'This has led to a temporary facility being prepared at the former RAF base at Heyford Park, which will be used if required.'  

Oxfordshire County Council confirmed that a temporary mortuary is being set up at the RAF base to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic

Air conditioning units installed in the hanger. A worker on the site at RAF Upper Heyford said two hangars were converted in a week to hold 600 corpses each

Sites for the temporary structures have been placed far away from residential areas to distance the public from potentially disturbing scenes.     

The county of Oxfordshire has 356 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 33 deaths as of Friday.

Elsewhere in South Essex an aerial picture of what is London's third temporary mortuary shows refrigeration units are already in place. 

Work's ready to start on two further hangars if the death toll rises, with five more on standby to bring total capacity to 5,400

The mortuary, built in the car park of South Essex Crematorium in Upminster, in the London Brough of Havering, is the length of a football pitch. 

South Essex Crematorium said in a statement: 'In line with our major incident emergency plans a temporary mortuary is being built at South Essex Crematorium on behalf of the London borough councils and as part of the London-wide response to coronavirus.

'This is being done as a sensible precaution and similar arrangements are made during any London-wide response to incidents.'

Another mortuary, built in the car park of South Essex Crematorium in Upminster, in the London Brough of Havering, is the length of a football pitch