The family of a young schoolboy who died when a gravestone fell on top of him have been refused legal aid in the run up to an inquiry into his death.

Ciaran Williamson, 8, died on May 26 last year after the gravestone fell on top of him.

His dad Ryan and gran Margaret, both from Glasgow, are now concerned they may never get the answers they seek over the schoolboy's death.

Ciaran had been playing with his friends in the city's Craigton Cemetery when a gravestone became dislodged and crushed him to death.

An investigation earlier this year into his death decided that no criminal charges would be brought against anyone.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) was announced in order to prevent any tragic accidents like this happening again.

But now Ryan and Margaret have been denied legal aid for the inquiry.

Ciaran's mum Stephanie Griffin has also applied for legal aid for the inquiry, which is currently under review.

Ryan and Margaret's solicitor, Cameron Fyfe of Glasgow firm Drummond Miller, has been left astonished by the decision to reject the family's legal aid application.

He said: "For a situation as important, emotional, and tragic as this, I am astonished that legal aid has been refused.

"For an FAI legal aid is usually granted, in my experience.

"Sometimes the legal aid board will say the Procurator Fiscal is there so they can advise the clients and keep them right.

"Our response to that is that we're coming at it from a different angle.

"We are looking at who is to blame, and could pursue for compensation, which isn't the Fiscal's concern.

"For that reason alone, legal aid should be granted and it normally is.

"As things stand just now, they will have to represent themselves, which is really unfair in something as emotional and important as this.

"The family are relying on the Fiscal to cover all the ground.

"I'm sure they will do a competent job but they are looking at what can be done in the future to stop this happening again.

"We are looking for who is to blame in this situation."

Stephanie's solicitor, Mark Gibson, of Digby Brown, said it is important the family are represented at the inquiry.

He said: "Our application is being reviewed at the moment and it is still under consideration. We expect a decision within the next couple of weeks.

"It is of vital importance that the families are represented at the inquiry.

"For example, it was clear from the preliminary hearing that the Procurator Fiscal is not prepared to instruct skilled engineer's evidence and evidence from industry experts to look into the condition of the memorial supports, the likely forces applied by the boys, whether there was a reasonable system of inspection and topple testing that ought to have been followed and whether such a system might have prevented the accident.

"These matters are not within judicial knowledge and it is unclear how the Sheriff can be expected to reach a comprehensive determination without the assistance of such witnesses and reports."

A spokesman for the Scottish Legal Aid Board said the application for funding did not show that solicitors representing the family would be looking for different information than the Procurator Fiscal.

He added: "We considered this case at great length and appreciate this is a difficult time for the relatives.

"Any legal aid application for separate legal representation at an FAI must show why the Procurator Fiscal would be unable to obtain all the relevant evidence about the circumstances of the death."

The first hearing of the FAI into Ciaran's death was held earlier this month, with the full inquiry due to start in November.