Memorial service for baby ashes families at Shrewsbury Abbey

Some of the babies whose ashes were not returned to their families by Emstrey Crematorium

Bereaved families who failed to receive ashes of their dead babies are being invited to a national memorial service.

An independent report into failings at Emstrey Crematorium in Shropshire said no ashes were handed over to parents of children under the age of one between 1996 and 2012.

Families from England and Wales are being invited to the service at Shrewsbury Abbey on 12 September.

Candles will be lit in memory of children whose ashes were not returned.

A consultation about baby cremations across England and Wales following the Emstrey report will take place later this year, Justice Minister Caroline Dinenage said last month.

After the report was commissioned, parents from across the country contacted the BBC to complain of similar circumstances.

The Action for Ashes campaign group had handed in a 61,000-signature petition to the government, calling for the return of cremated ashes to be a legal requirement after 60 families were unable to obtain their babies' ashes from Emstrey.

Glen Perkins, who formed the campaign group, has said he was "blown away" that a consultation had been approved so quickly.

Ms Dinenage has said the consultation would include bereaved parents in the process.