A CARLISLE family has been left devastated after the collapse of the company that held their pre-paid funeral plans.

Malcolm Herring, 74, said his wife, who is now ill, invested £3,000 into the Safe Hands funeral company eight years ago and his sister, who is 90, did the same.

The family has been told that they will not get their money back.

"We have lost that money and the interest it would have gained and now we also have to pay for our funerals again," Mr Herring said.

News and Star: Mr and Mrs HerringMr and Mrs Herring (Image: Newsquest)

He is one of 46,000 people who had prepaid their funerals with the company.

He said he has been unable to find anyone to help recover the money which now seems to be a lost cause.

"We have spoken to and had Citizens Advice Bureau contact the solicitors who helped us organise the funeral plan. They have apologised but said there was nothing they could do."

According to Safe Hands the Company entered into financial difficulty due to a combination of factors, some of which are understood to be linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The value of the company’s assets are significantly lower than the company’s liabilities which means that the company is insolvent.

The administrators have been conducting a detailed investigation into the failure of the business, including the reasons behind it and the conduct of the company’s directors.

The Safe Hands statement adds: "The value of the company’s assets are significantly lower than the company’s liabilities which means that the company is insolvent."

A company called Dignity Funerals stepped in with an offer to provide funeral services to plan holders but that offer expired on October 22.

Policy holders could also have joined a discounted scheme from Dignity and the Co-op but applications had to be in by December 19.

Joint administrators, Nedim Ailyan and Ben Stanyon, said a claim form was sent to all plan holders in September and should still be filled out and returned to them.

Mr Herring confirmed he had returned the form but has heard nothing.

For more information visit: www.safehandsplans.co.uk or to contact the administrators by email: safehands@frpadvisory.com