THE FAMILY of James Bell, a Malmesbury man who died in Kenya last month, are appealing for help in covering the cost of his funeral after a row with authorities led to his body being held in a mortuary for more than a month.

The dispute means the family of Mr Bell has been left to pick up the bill of mortuary costs and lawyers’ fees which they say has caused them a “great financial burden”.

Regina, Gakondi and Mercy Bell, siblings who James adopted when he married their mother Teresia, are now hoping generous donors in the community will come forward to help cover the £2,700 costs.

The couple were married for 13 years but when James died authorities disputed the next of kin and refused to release his body for burial.

The issue has now been resolved after lawyers and the British High Commission in Nairobi intervened but the family has been left hugely out of pocket by the drawn out row.

Regina said that she felt good now the ordeal has come to an end: "It means the world and I am glad that he will finally have the peace that we have all been fighting for.

"We treated James like our own dad as he has always been there.

"Our mother was his wife of many years and his next of kin.

"We have been the only family he has known for a long time."

James Bell will be buried on Friday in Kenya according to his wishes, to help support the family go to gofundme.com/james-bell-fundraising