The family of a man who died during the flu crisis were prevented from carrying out the usual ceremony surrounding burial because his body had laid on a hospital trolley for four days.

52-year-old Birchan Dohal died at King George's Hospital, Redbridge, on 3 January of a liver complaint.

Mortuary fridges at the hospital were full because of the flu outbreak, and his body was left on a trolley.

When his remains were eventually collected, the undertakers advised his family not to carry out the Hindu ritual washing, clothing and displaying of the body before cremation.

No good send off

Mr Dohal's son Kulvinder said: "They deprived us of washing him, dressing him and giving him a good send off.

"That is what has hurt the most."

The hospital has described the lack of space in the mortuary as "highly regrettable".

A spokesman said the number of deaths over the millennium period was twice the normal rate.

Dr Peter Tanner, from the hospital, said: "We had an arrangement with a large funeral facility for the removal of bodies from here to their facility.

"The problem was that there were so many deaths over Christmas and the New Year that that facility was also full."

The hospital now plans to add an air conditioning unit, and to expand the number of places in the on-site mortuary from 24 to 40.