Council sorry after burying people in wrong plots

The Coney Hill cemetery mix-up was made public at Gloucester City Council's full meeting last week

A council has apologised after accidently burying two people in the wrong plots.

Gloucester City Council was asked to launch an investigation after it was discovered the bodies were buried in the wrong locations at Coney Hill cemetery.

Councillor Alastair Chambers, who raised the issue at a council meeting last week, said he was "shocked and deeply saddened" to learn about the mix-up.

A council spokesperson said, it was aware of the "incorrect burials" and had "followed all processes and procedures" to move the graves to the correct locations.

Gloucester City Councillor Alastair Chambers said he was "both shocked and deeply saddened" by the "devastating mistake"

The "tragic" issue was raised by Mr Chambers at a full council meeting last week, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Chambers, who represents the nearby Matson ward, wanted the council to carry out an immediate investigation into the cemetery burials.

"I [was] both shocked and deeply saddened to learn that the city council has been burying bodies in the wrong graves," he said.

"It's hard to believe that such a devastating mistake could even happen."

Gloucester City Council said it has apologised to families and friends of the deceased

It is understood the reasons the bodies were buried in the wrong plots were unrelated and at no point were mourners present at the wrong burial.

A spokesperson for the council said it has apologised to the families and friends of the deceased.

"The council is aware of two graves in recent years that have been placed in the wrong location within the cemetery grounds," they said.

"We have followed all processes and procedures to move those graves to the correct locations in the cemetery, and have been working sensitively with the families involved to resolve these.

"Our thoughts and feelings remain with the family and friends of the deceased."