TWO years after his death, a Monmouthshire man is still without a final resting place.

John Morgan's family have been fighting to fulfil his dying wish of being buried in the village he was born and brought-up in - all to no avail.

His devastated family from Llanelly Hill, near Abergavenny, say they are unable to grieve for him until they can lay his ashes in the local cemetery, as he wanted.

Although Monmouthshire council has plans to place a memorial garden for cremated remains at Llanelly Community Cemetery, the family have already been waiting two years for the plans to materialise.

His brother-in-law, Trevor Williams, said: "Before he died, John sat with us on the bench in the Llanelly church cemetery and told us it was where he wanted his remains to be buried.

"He always loved Llanelly church, when he came home from naval service the first thing he would do is visit the church."

John's sister, Jennifer Williams, added: "As children we would always go on walks to the church with my mother.

"It held special memories for him."

But church rules mean people living outside the parish at the time of their death cannot be buried in the churchyard.

When he died, Mr Morgan was ineligible as he was living in Newbury with his wife Diane, so the family turned their attention to the neighbouring Llanelly community cemetery instead.

Mr Williams said: "It is the nearest we can get to his wishes."

A Royal Navy chief petty officer for 25 years, Mr Morgan died of lung cancer in November 2002 aged 58.

It will be the second anniversary of his death on November 6.

During his time with the navy Mr Morgan served on numerous submarines including the HMS Repulse, HMS Churchill and HMS Swiftshore.

Mr Williams said: "My brother-in-law served his country for 25 years and he hasn't even been re-paid with a proper memorial site."

He added: "Until this matter is put to rest we will not be able to rest either." No one from the council was available to comment as the Argus went to press