Baby ashes row campaigners angry over open day at Shrewsbury Crematorium

The open day at Emstrey Crematorium will include a tombola and children's activities, and has attracted the ire of objectors.

But officials at The Co-operative Funeralcare, which runs the crematorium on London Road, said the July 26 event had been planned for months and was aimed at helping people understand more about funerals.

The day will include guided tours of the crematorium, chapels and memorial grounds and visitors will be offered an opportunity to meet the team. There will also be floristry and vehicles on display.

Last month, Shropshire Council confirmed an independent inquiry will be held into the crematorium's failure to return the ashes of dead babies to their families although timescales were not revealed, nor who will conduct the inquiry.

The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management said they believed it could be the first inquiry of its type in England.

Glen Perkins, spokesman for the Action for Ashes group which was set up after it emerged a number of Shropshire families had not had the ashes of their dead babies returned, said: "This is heartless and cruel. It is beyond comprehension. They say they are 'sensitive to the issues around the cremations of babies' but if this was the case, they would cancel the day.

"Where are their morals? It is very distasteful."

Gaynor Williams, from Shrewsbury, said on a social media site discussing the matter: "I hope there is some respect about it all as many of us have family members ashes there and the thought of children running around is totally in bad taste, this should be a place for reflection, peace and comfort to those who have lost loved ones."

Pauline Cheney asked: "Will there be someone on hand to tell us where our missing baby's ashes are?"

But Lynette Cumming, from Shrewsbury, said: "It can only be a good thing the crematorium is opening its doors to welcome the community and raise profile of charities.

"It is good we all feel so different about it and that shows we all come with different experiences. As time passes death is becoming less of a taboo subject and, slowly, something we now talk about openly. I think us British are too up tight at times."

A spokesman for The Co-operative Funeralcare said: "We often hold open days at our crematoria and funeral homes, as a way breaking down some of the traditional barriers that make it difficult for people to talk about funerals.

"While we are sensitive to the issues around cremations of babies, we believe it's important for people to have an opportunity to talk to staff and find out how a crematorium operates. Theday will include advice on organising personalised funerals, displays of funeral vehicles, cream teas in aid of Severn Hospice, and stalls by local charities."