A MUM who gave birth to a stillborn boy is taking legal action against a hospital trust after she found out the body had been kept in a jar for FOUR years.

Jo-Ann Burrows, of Netley View, Hythe, Hamps, said that she was "disgusted" at the news as she had believed the body was cremated.

The 44-year-old mother-of-five is now organising a naming ceremony and funeral for the stillborn whose twin sister survived.

Ms Burrows said: "This experience has made me suicidal, if it wasnt for my friends and family I wouldnt be here.

"I kept asking for my babys funeral papers because I was always worried that he might be in a jar somewhere. I still couldnt believe it when I found out."

Twin

Ms Burrows gave birth to daughter Ellie on April 26, 2004 at the Hythe Birthing Centre, but gave birth to the stillborn twin two days later at home.

She said that an ultrasound scan taken the previous December had not revealed that she was carrying a twin.

After the stillbirth, Ms Burrows was taken to the Princess Anne maternity hospital, in Southampton, where she gave her consent for the body to be cremated but has spent four years asking for the funeral papers and ashes.

She was informed through her solicitor in February that the hospital still had the baby and has now filed a medical negligence claim against Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust

It claims the trust failed to exercise reasonable care and skill when performing the ultrasound and also focuses on Ms Burrows repeated requests for confirmation of the cremation.

A Trust spokeswoman said Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust confirms that legal proceedings have been brought against it by Ms Jo-Ann Burrows.

"The matter currently remains subject to formal legal proceedings and the trust is not in a position to comment any further at this stage.

"The chief executive has already written to Ms Burrows apologising for shortcomings in the treatment provided to her and, in particular, for the circumstances which led to Ms Burrows second twin not being cremated in 2004 as they had previously advised and for the distress this discovery may have caused."

Ms Burrows and the father Rodney Wheeler have decided to name the baby Haydon Rodney Wheeler at a baby naming ceremony on June 3 two days before he is to be cremated.