A VICAR has revealed the tragic story surrounding the only headstone in his cemetery without a grave.

The 19th century memorial headstone lies in the burial ground of St Leonard's Church, Balderstone, and Rev David Ashforth (pictured) said he was fascinated by the tale behind it.

If today's DNA testing techniques had been available there would have been no need for the memorial to William Townend Lund.

Mr Ashforth said: "The gentleman who died was working away from home when he was involved with several others in a serious train fire. The details of the accident and inquest were recorded in the Blackburn Times dated August 22 and 29, 1868."

He said the accident happened at 7.15am on Thursday August 20, 1868, to the Irish mail train which had left London's Euston Station, for Chester and Holyhead where it was to connect with the steamer to Dublin.

In Chester the train collected four extra passenger carriages and continued across North Wales. On an incline near Llanddulas, four goods wagons carrying drums of paraffin careered down the line towards it. They collided with the train and the explosion sent hot coals and paraffin over the carriages killing 33 people.

Bodies were so badly burned that individual identification was impossible. They were placed in separate coffins and buried together in a Welsh graveyard beneath a granite monument. The church porch is dedicated to the victims' memory.

Memorial stones were placed in the graveyards of towns and villages where the passengers came from including William Lund.

Two other Blackburn men, possibly related, were amongst the list of those who died. They were W Bradley Parkinson and Christopher Slater Parkinson. It is not known where their memorials stand.

"It is a very unusual situation in a churchyard to have a grave but no body and is an interesting though tragic account," said Mr Ashforth.