Wife's ashes sold in bazaar blunder

A woman mistakenly sold her the ashes of her husband’s previous wife when she parted with a ceramic turtle for 25p.

Now horrified Anita Lewis, of Elmira, New York, is desperately searching for the woman who bought the large turtle – with plans to use it as a biscuit jar.

She started to haul items into her garden early on Saturday for a yard sale, while her husband Terrence slept. A buyer quickly selected the large turtle container, despite being unable to open the lid.

Mr Lewis’ previous wife had collected turtles and the couple’s home was full of them, Mrs Lewis said.

“We have lots of turtles,” she told the Elmira Star-Gazette newspaper. “It didn’t even register that this was the one (containing the ashes).”

The couple hopes the woman will discover the ashes and return them.