A WOMAN'S grief following the sudden death of her brother turned to anger when she learned that crematorium staff had disposed of his ashes without the consent of her family.

The death of former gravedigger Kenneth Wolstencroft came as his sister Lynda Beresford lay seriously in hospital.

After Mrs Beresford, a Lancashire County Council cook, of Windsor Road, Great Harwood, was discharged from Blackburn Royal Infirmary, she and her family had hoped to join in a memorial service for her brother.

But she then discovered to her horror that, although the funeral director had asked Accrington Crematorium staff to save the ashes for a service, the request had been ignored and the ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance.

The council have apologised to Mrs Beresford.

  • See this week's Observer for the full story