A South West newspaper acted inappropriately in its funeral coverage of a teenager who had taken his own life, the press watchdog has ruled.

Hazel Cattermole, from Weston-Super-Mare, complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the manner in which Bristol daily the Evening Post obtained photographs and a report of the funeral of her 17-year-old son.

The report, carried on 26 February under the headline ‘Farewell to our darling son’, featured pictures taken by a photographer who was seen hiding in some bushes outside the crematorium.

On the instructions of the family, the undertaker asked the photographer to leave which he did so immediately but the article also contained details from the order of service and messages left on flowers outside which the family said it found distressing.

In response, the newspaper said cremations were public events and that the photographer had behaved in a sensitive manner.

He had decided to remain between the main gate and the chapel, and was shielded from mourners by a hedge, and was not ‘hiding’ in bushes.

The journalist had not attended the funeral itself but had picked up an order of service at its conclusion to take down details and had waited until mourners left to note the messages on flowers.

The newspaper was not aware of the family’s wish that no pictures should be published and, following the complaint, said it was willing to publish an apology to the family for causing them distress.

The PCC upheld the complaint and said that, given the age of the complainant’s son and the manner of his death, there was a great need for restraint and sensitivity on the part of the press.

“It was incumbent on the newspaper to demonstrate that it had paid appropriate regard to the feelings of the family. It was not able to do so,” ruled the Commission.

“The newspaper should have taken steps to establish the parents’ wishes before sending a photographer and a journalist to the funeral.

“Once the photographer had been warned away from the funeral, it should have considered the likelihood that the family would object to the publication of his photographs.

“The newspaper’s behaviour was not appropriate in the context of this untimely and tragic death.”