The bailiff who repossessed a funeral parlour where a husband broke in and removed his mother-in-law's body confirmed some families still do not have their loved-ones' remains.

Robert Hamshare, an enforcement officer for Mid Kent Bailiffs Services, had never come across human remains in all his years in the job but was faced with 16 urns which had not been returned to families.

Although the ashes were passed on to the funeral director responsible - some families are still searching for the remains.

KentOnline revealed yesterday how a husband was forced to break into the premises of Butterfly Funeral Services after he was unable to contact staff.

The premises was repossessed on August 22.

Mr Hamshare, 58, said: "I repossessed the premises on behalf on the client.

"Her rent was in arrears - she owed enough money for the client to order it to be repossessed. She obviously wasn't going to be able to pay it back.

"When a premises is repossessed the property inside is returned to the client.

"But in this instance there was a quantity of human remains inside.

"People are still looking for them - in fact I was just on the phone to a relative asking where they could find the ashes..." - Robert Hamshare

"The client had actually warned me there might be one or two urns inside because he had received calls from relatives who hadn't had them returned. But we actually found 16.

"We usually return the goods to the client but he agreed we should give it back to the lady as she had all the information regarding the relatives of the deceased.

"Medway Council contacted me to find out where the ashes were and I said we had given them back to the funeral director - they seemed happy with that.

"Now the ashes are with another funeral director that she used to work in conjunction with.

"People are still looking for them - in fact I was just on the phone to a relative asking where they could find the ashes."

Robert has worked as a bailiff for years but has never come across human remains before.

He said: "I've never come across human remains before in the job, and I've been doing it for many years.

"No ashes, no dead bodies - to be honest I've never repossessed a funeral parlour before because they usually make a lot of money.

"I feel bad for the woman, her business sense clearly wasn't very good. It's a cruel world out there.

"I have come across a lot of funeral directors who don't pay their parking tickets though - but I won't name any names."

He added: "At least it will be a happy outcome at last for the relatives."

A local funeral home owner claims she reported Karen Calder for not being qualified as a director to the council.

Andrea Button, who owns Button & Family Funeral Services in Chatham, is also warning people to shop around and get recommendations before choosing an undertaker.

She said: “I have gone to the council before and reported her for not being qualified.

“I know a few funerals have had to be cancelled because the burial authorities couldn’t get hold of her to ask her about what graves they were digging..." - Andrea Button, Button & Family Funeral Services

“I offered to go there and train her myself but I never heard anything back.

“I know a few funerals have had to be cancelled because the burial authorities couldn’t get hold of her to ask her about what graves they were digging.

“If people want to find a good funeral director, look for a trade logo and look around - get family recommendations and don’t be frightened to go into funeral homes and go back out if youre not happy.

“You don’t have to stay with them.”

She added: “It’s disgusting what she’s done.”