THE mother of the girlfriend of tragic Jamie Bucknell today called for a new national policy to let families know what designs they can use on the gravestones of loved ones.

Julie Barnie, mother of 14-year-old Helen, was speaking after Strensall Parish Council twice turned down designs proposed by Jamie's family.

They had asked to include a photo, then an etching, of their son.

Mrs Barnie said: "There should be a general policy on headstone design that applies at all cemeteries across the country.

"Any policy that could avoid situations like this has got to be a good thing. What has happened here has caused lots more upset for Jamie's family."

Mrs Barnie did welcome the news yesterday that the parish council had agreed to have another look at its decision.

She continued: "What annoys me most is that other cemeteries allow pictures. My husband is buried at Huntington and the next stone along from his has a photo on it."

Mrs Barnie's husband died aged 41 just weeks before Jamie. Both suffered heart attacks.

Mrs Barnie continued: "I understand the parish council has their own rules, but I think they are living in the past. The whole thing is totally ludicrous."

Huntington School pupil Helen said: "Jamie's family have been through enough now. The headstone is their last tribute to him but they are being stopped from paying that tribute without being given one good reason why."

Jamie's father, Keith, said: "I agree 100 per cent. It seems to me like the rules change as things go along, which doesn't help anyone."

Both possible headstone designs contained an image of Jamie.

The first had a computerised photograph, the second an etching. The other also included a pair of football boots and a heart with Helen's name inside and an arrow through it.

Chairman Phillip Thorpe yesterday agreed to have another look at cemetery rules and contact the Bucknell family with a new decision "at the end of next week".

Updated: 10:45 Saturday, April 20, 2002