A GRIEVING Worcester politician was left waiting for days until he was allowed to have his beloved aunt’s body flown out the country and buried because the county’s coroner is not available at weekends.

Councillor Jabba Riaz said his family had to suffer “unnecessary stress and anxiety” after being unable to contact Worcestershire coroner’s office and has called for the coroner service to rapidly improve and establish a system to enable families such as his to contact the office at the weekend.

Under strict Muslim traditions, when a family member dies, the body is meant to be buried as soon as possible – ideally within 24 hours.

But when Coun Riaz’s aunt, 82-year-old Zainab Bibi, died at Worcestershire Royal Hospital after a cardiac arrest, the family was unable to abide by the tradition because it was a Saturday.

The family wanted her to be flown to Kashmir to be buried, but under UK law the coroner needed to see the death certificate and sign paperwork first.

It was the end of May bank holiday weekend – meaning the family had to wait until Tuesday for assistance.

The councillor has now won the backing of Worcester City Council, with managing director Duncan Sharkey set to write to the coroner’s office in a bid to establish a weekend service.

Coun Riaz said: “It’s an issue which affects many people in the Muslim community and it’s something which can cause distress at a difficult time.

“Worcestershire seems to be the only area in the locality which doesn’t have an out-of-hours service and I feel it is much needed.”

The Conservative said he tried “all avenues” to make contact with coroner Geraint Williams, only to eventually establish that he was unavailable.

During a vote before full council, politicians instructed Mr Sharkey to formally request an out-of-hours service.

In the letter, he will ask for a review of the coroner’s office so it can help Worcester’s growing Muslim community.

Fellow politicians also backed the move, saying it is long overdue and that areas such as Sandwell and Birmingham have weekend coroner services already.

Coun Allah Ditta said: “In Pakistan this is never an issue, the body gets buried within 24 hours.

“It is a real problem when it doesn’t happen here.”

Coun Paul Denham, deputy mayor of Worcester, said: “It is only right that people of different backgrounds and beliefs get the services they require.”

Worcestershire Coroner’s Office said it was unable to comment.