The Bell family who discovered their dad had been buried in the wrong grave for 17 years have said they’ve been left with more questions than answers after a report into the blunder was published.

Tom Bell and his sisters Denise and Debra found out after the death of their beloved mum Hilda in June that they had been vising the wrong grave since 2005 at Holy Trinity Church Wingate.

They then endured a painful six week delay while gravediggers dug up 11 plots searching for their father, Thomas Bell's, resting place as Hilda lay in a funeral home.

Read more: Investigation into Wingate grave mix-up finds 'perfect storm' that led to blunder

A report published into the distressing mix-up this weekend blamed a ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances for the error.

But the Bell family have told The Northern Echo they’ve been left with more questions than answers after the report was published.

The Northern Echo: Hilda was finally buried with her husband Thomas on August 12, almost two months after her June 16 death, at a graveside service.Hilda was finally buried with her husband Thomas on August 12, almost two months after her June 16 death, at a graveside service. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Tom Bell, 58, from Easington, told The Echo: “I don’t really feel like we’re any further forward – it still doesn’t explain what happened and hasn’t answered any of our questions.

“They’re still just going around the houses and no one seems to be accepting any blame.

"The one person being blamed is the former vicar who’s no longer around to defend himself.

The month-long investigation conducted by Archdeacon of Sunderland Bob Cooper said former Reverend Martin Vaizey, who retired in 2007, ‘did not keep records to the extent that would be considered best practice’.

The family also only discovered the report had been published after they were contacted by The Northern Echo.

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Tom, a factory worker, continued: “The Archdeacon told us they’d send me and my sisters a copy of the report before it was published but we heard nothing from them.

“We only found out it had been published online when we heard from Northern Echo reporter Daniel Hordon.”

The Durham Diocese said it would not be commenting further on the findings of its investigation.

Tom added: “The only closure we’ve got is that mum and dad are at peace together.

“Mum used to visit what she thought was dad’s grave every Friday for 17 years on her way to the hairdressers and we’ve been going down a couple of times a week.

“This can’t be allowed to happen to anyone else.”

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