A FAMILY are distressed after a care home failed to inform them they had thrown away some of their deceased relative’s belongings, including a treasured photograph.

Audrey North MBE died on Boxing Day aged 87 at Partridge House Nursing Home, in Heath Hill Avenue, Bevendean.

Mrs North was awarded an MBE in 1988 for her dedicated political service as a constituency secretary for the Conservative party in Havering, Essex.

Her son Bill North, 66, said the care home threw away items that were sentimental to his mother and added: “We are very upset by what happened.

“This was a sad time for the family.

“Mum had been ill for some years, and we have had time to prepare ourselves.

“But we were totally unprepared for the fact that, without any warning, and before we could make arrangements to collect them, Partridge House disposed of mum’s personal belongings.”

Mr North said his daughter Carly phoned him and was “absolutely distraught” and in tears after speaking to the care home.

She said: “I was just about to pick up my nan’s belongings and have been told that everything, apart from her expensive chair and ring, had been disposed of.

“I was told it was the Christmas period and no one could contact us, yet they threw everything out.”

Mr North said while some items have been recovered, the care home is unable to locate some of his mother’s clothes, CDs and an irreplaceable and sentimental photograph of herself.

He said: “Some of those CDs were singers like Elvis Presley and Eddy Grant.

“Those songs meant a lot to her because she listened to them regularly.

“Carly went to pick up some of mum’s belongings but some things are still missing.

“They gave her a written apology and said they were not trying to cover up what happened, and they added they are reviewing procedures.

“They also gave the family £50 as a goodwill gesture.

“The staff’s care for my mother was excellent, but we are still very upset by the situation.

“No family should need to have to go through the unnecessary distress and anger that we have had to endure. We didn’t want mum to leave the care home under such circumstances.”

Partridge Care home were contacted for comment.