BEREAVED parents affected by the baby ashes scandal vowed to continue their fight for a public inquiry after speaking with the First Minister in what he described as a "very emotional" meeting.

Alex Salmond last night heard first-hand experiences of parents whose children's ashes were scattered or discarded without their knowledge.

He has come under pressure to order a public inquiry into the practices surrounding the disposal of baby ashes.

However, speaking after the meeting, the First Minister said the independent commission led by former High Court Judge Lord Bonomy was a "national response" to the situation.

Parent Linsay Bonar, who was told there would be no ashes after the cremation of her son who died at 33-hours old, said: "I'm a bit saddened to say they are not changing their position on a public inquiry at the moment. The group will still be pushing for a full public inquiry."

Mortonhall crematorium in Edinburgh secretly buried the ashes of babies for decades without the knowledge of their families. Since then other councils have been implicated.