A County Durham family have finally been able to lay their mum and dad to rest together after spending SIX WEEKS searching for his grave.

Hilda Bell sadly passed away from COPD on June 16 and son Tom and sisters Denise, 59, and Debra, 53, planned to bury her alongside her doting husband Thomas after a funeral service on July 1.

But just two days before the funeral the family were shocked to be told that someone else had been found in their dad’s grave that they had been visiting for 17 years, and that his coffin was nowhere to be seen.

Read more: EXCLUSIVE - Durham family spent 17 years visiting wrong grave due to blunder

Eleven graves were dug up at Holy Trinity Church, Wingate, over six weeks while the family were unable to grieve as they waited anxiously for news of their dad’s whereabouts.

Now, nearly two months after Hilda’s death the loving couple were finally laid to rest together during a burial service on Friday (August 12) afternoon. The Northern Echo was given permission by the family to attend the churchyard.

The Northern Echo: Hilda Bell was finally given the send off she deserves and laid to rest alongside husband Thomas. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH Hilda Bell was finally given the send off she deserves and laid to rest alongside husband Thomas. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Tom Bell, 58, a factory worker from Easington, told The Northern Echo: “We couldn’t rest until they were together and reunited after all of this time.

“We had been living our life day-to-day hoping every phone call was the one to say he had been found.

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here

“When they told me they’d found him I had to ask them twice if they were sure it was definitely him.

“Now we can finally start grieving for our mum knowing they have been laid to rest together.”

The Northern Echo: A burial service was held on Friday (August 12) afternoon. Pictures: CHRIS BOOTHA burial service was held on Friday (August 12) afternoon. Pictures: CHRIS BOOTH

The family held a graveside burial service on Friday with flowers and transportation all provided for free, after Hilda had to be returned to a funeral home and flowers binned after her July 1 funeral.

Thomas’ resting place was only discovered last week, just two meters from where he was believed to have been buried for 17 years.

Read more: Shock as ANOTHER family told they've been visiting wrong grave at Wingate church

Hilda has now been buried where Thomas has been since he died in 2005, and the headstone will be moved to the new location.

The Northern Echo: A large group of Hilda's friends and family gathered to pay their respects. Picture: CHRIS BOOTHA large group of Hilda's friends and family gathered to pay their respects. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

It is still not clear how the shocking blunder occurred, or how many bodies have been buried in the wrong place at the Wingate graveyard.

The Diocese of Durham, which is responsible for burials at the graveyard, has now launched a ‘lessons learned’ investigation into how the distressing mix-up occurred.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Durham previously told The Northern Echo: “We are thankful that the family of Mr and Mrs Bell are now able to lay their mother to rest in the same grave as their father, and mourn in peace.

The Northern Echo: An emotional burial service was held as Hilda was finally laid to rest alongside Thomas, as per her dying wishes. Picture: CHRIS BOOTHAn emotional burial service was held as Hilda was finally laid to rest alongside Thomas, as per her dying wishes. Picture: CHRIS BOOTH (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

“We will now seek to investigate why a distressing error about the location of headstones was made 17 years ago and ensure that any lessons to be learned are identified and acted upon.”

Read next: 

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here