AN AM asked to call in the local government Ombudsman to investigate the handling of a graves mix-up wants him to rule on possible compensation.

Jocelyn Davies, (pictured) AM for South Wales East, was visited by two of her constituents, both featured in the Argus, after they discovered they had been tending empty graves in St Woolos cemetery, Newport.

We revealed in March how Alan Perchard and Gail Williams discovered just last year that they were affected by the mix-up, which concerned a number of people buried in plots 99 and 101 between 1979 and 1981.

Mrs Davies said: "These people are only discovering they have been tending empty graves when they are grieving because they're trying to bury another relative.

"They have just a couple of days to decide what to do, and facing this news on top of the bad news a relative has died means they are finding it more traumatic.

"They are not satisfied with the response they have had from the local authority, so I'm hoping the local government Ombudsman will agree to look into this - especially with a view to giving his opinion on compensation they might be entitled to."

She said she would be sending the Ombudsman copies of all correspondence bet-ween Newport council, Mr Perchard and Mrs Williams, for him to consider their plight.

Mrs Davies said: "They have been tending an empty plot while their relative is in ground that hasn't been looked after. They feel so guilty, even though it's not their fault.

"Part of the grieving process is visiting the grave, which is recognised by the fact we have cemeteries."

Tom Chaloner, the man in charge of cemeteries at the council, has already apologised for any upset caused.