Des Lowther - who died on October 2. Friends are angry at a two-month wait for his funeral after public authorities didn't take responsibility. (Image: chroniclelive)

Friends of a Northumberland man who died two months ago have criticised public authorities for failing to arrange his funeral.

Des Lowther, 68, passed away from bowel cancer on October 2 and spent the following weeks in a hospital mortuary.

Des, a former charity worker from Prudhoe with no next of kin, had no arrangements made for his cremation.

Friend Lisa Botto told ChronicleLive it had been “upsetting” that neither Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust nor Newcastle City Council stepped in to fund a public health funeral, typically a direct cremation.

Two months on, friends have finally been able to pay for Des’ cremati

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