Funeral home scandal cops' next-of-kin visits

Chief reveals 163 families linked to ashes identified

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

POLICE investigating a funeral home at the centre of a fraud probe have identified 163 families linked to ashes found there.

Humberside Police were unable to gain DNA profiles from the remains, but paperwork linked to the families was located at the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, East Yorks.

Detectives looking into the firm have now been in contact with the next of kin to offer to return the ashes to them.

Humberside Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin said "personal meetings" had been held with those relatives affected.

"Some families may want to receive the ashes, and others may not," he said.

"There is no right or wrong answer and the impact... will differ for each individual family.

"But it should not be underestimated and we will do all we can to support those throughout what is an incredibly difficult time.