A nephew has fulfilled his aunt's dying wish of being laid to rest next to her late husband by scattering her ashes at Arnos Vale Cemetery.

Ron Salisbury was desperate to find the resting place of his uncle Frederick Salisbury so he could ensure his recently deceased aunt, Frederick's wife Dorothy, could be laid to rest alongside him.

He had no idea where he had been buried because, at 93, Dorothy could not remember.

But after Ron's plight was highlighted in the Evening Post, a funeral directors came to the rescue and identified where Frederick was laid to rest 42 years ago.

Yesterday Mr Salisbury scattered Dorothy's ashes on a garden of remembrance at the cemetery, where Southville- based funeral directors Thomas Davis discovered Frederick's ashes had been scattered in 1967.

After reading the article in the Post, they trawled through their files, which go back to 1840. They found that Frederick died in December 1966 and was cremated on January 6 the following year.

Mr Salisbury, 77, who lives in Church Lane, Yatton, said: "I went to the cemetery with my wife Sylvia, and we met with one of Dorothy's friends who used to be her neighbour.

"The rain stayed away and the sun was out – it was a perfect afternoon to do it. It is a very nice garden, with a large expanse of grass. She would be very happy to be there – it was of course her dying wish to be with Frederick.

"It was quite an emotional day, and the end of a long, hard journey. To be honest, it had all really got me down because I thought I would not be able to do what she had asked me to, but the response I had after the article in the Evening Post was amazing. I had more than 35 calls in one day from people telling me how to find out.

"It is lovely that Dorothy is now at rest. She has what she wished for. I have done my bit – I think anyone who makes a promise as I did should honour it, no matter what it takes."

Frederick lived in Bedminster with wife Dorothy after they met during the war. They were married on November 12, 1946, at Bristol Register Office.

In their 21-year marriage they lived near Redcliffe Church and ran an off-licence in Wells Road.

War hero Frederick died of a heart attack 42 years ago, when he was 60. Dorothy died in May, aged 93.

No other relatives who may have known Frederick's whereabouts are still alive.

Dorothy was cremated at Bristol crematorium in May, having spent her last days at the Yatton Hall nursing home.