A trainee reporter has won a Parliamentary apology for a grieving family who visited the wrong grave for 17 years.

Northern Echo journalist Daniel Hordon has won praise from his editor Gavin Foster for his “determination” in securing the apology for the Bell family.

The Darlington-based Echo reported in July how Tom Bell and his sisters had discovered, following the death of their mother Hilda, that a stranger’s coffin had been found in the plot where they believed their father Thomas was buried.

The Bell family then endured a “heart-breaking” eight-week delay in burying their mum as eleven graves were dug up at Holy Trinity Church, in Wingate, County Durham, in a search for their dad’s resting place.

How the Echo covered the mix-up in July

The late Mr Bell was eventually found to have been buried just two metres away from where his family believed he was, prompting Easington’s Labour MP Grahame Morris to suggest reforms are needed to improve burial records.

Conservative MP Andrew Selous, who acts as the Second Church Estates Commissioner, told the House of Commons on Thursday: “This has been a deeply troubling time for the Bell family and I’d like to pass on my heartfelt apologies for what has happened.

“I’m pleased that this issue has been resolved and the lessons learned process begins next month.”

Echo Editor Gavin Foster told HTFP: “We are delighted the Bell family finally received an apology they deserved in this matter. An inquiry is yet to go ahead, but we hope that the recommendations of accurate record keeping are put in place to prevent this shocking episode from happening to another family.

“The Northern Echo has an excellent reputation and tradition of holding people to account, highlighting issues that matter or affect our readers, fighting for what is right and correcting wrongs.

“This was yet another example and the determination shown by trainee reporter Daniel Hordon in exposing this heartbreaking story and fighting for this family was exemplary.

“No apology will ever be enough for what they have had to endure – but we are glad we could help them get this terrible situation resolved so they can finally grieve properly for their loved ones.”