THE Mayor of Christchurch is appealing for help after finding a box containing ashes on the beach in Mudeford.

Cllr Lesley Dedman made the surprising discovery between Avon Beach and Mudeford Quay while walking her dogs during the morning of December 23, following a spell of stormy weather.

The wooden box, which measures around eight inches long by four inches wide, has a brass plaque on it and bears the name Audrey Maguire.

Cllr Dedman said: “I bought it home because I didn’t want anyone to trip over it.”

“It was on the shoreline, it had clearly come in overnight or early in the morning,” she added.

After taking the box home, Cllr Dedman contacted the Reverend Canon Charles Stewart, the priest-in-charge at Christchurch Priory, for guidance on what to do with it next. He advised that she return it to the sea before saying a prayer.

“I also got in touch with the people who do burials at sea and they’ve never heard of her,” she said. “I feel responsible for her. It just says Audrey Maguire not Mrs or mum.

“I just would like any help. In case anyone thinks, that’s my mum or auntie.”

It was only after the box started to dry out that the lid became loose and Cllr Dedman was able to see that ashes were contained inside it.

She said: “I’m sure it’s been buried at sea or thrown overboard, I don’t even know if it’s local.”

After taking to Google to attempt to solve the mystery of where the box had come from, a search failed to find anyone locally with the name Audrey Maguire, however Cllr Dedman said she managed to trace someone with the name back to Belfast.

Cllr Dedman is keen to return the box to the family of Ms Maguire.

She added: “I feel she wanted to be buried at sea but has bobbed back in.”

Anyone who can help provide any information can contact the Daily Echo by emailing newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk