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More than 150 MPs from all ­parties have signed a letter urging PM Theresa May to think again on scrapping child burial charges.

The Sunday Mirror has been campaigning, along with Labour’s Carolyn Harris, to end the cruel fees since 2016.

Now Mrs Harris, MP for Swansea East, has instigated the letter to which 156 politicians have put their names.

News of the move follows a report in which a former No10 aide said the PM was “unsympathetic” to the problems ordinary people go through.

Insiders revealed the struggle they had to persuade her the campaign to end charges for child burials was not only the right thing to do but also a sensible political move.

The letter, which has been shown exclusively to the Sunday Mirror and whose ­signatories include senior Tory Iain Duncan Smith , will be sent to Downing Street on Monday.

(Image: South Wales Evening Post) (Image: Sunday Mirror)

Mrs Harris, who wants the creation of a nationwide children’s funeral fund, said: “I’m really frustrated I’ve had to do this to get the message across.

“It’s an issue of basic decency and compassion.

“Hopefully this will encourage the Prime Minister to take action.”

The letter says: “There are many Members, across the House, who support the need for this fund and we write to you as one to ask you to consider our plea.

“Please let us ensure that no more parents face the added uncertainty of debt when they are already struggling to cope with the cruellest fate life has dealt them.”

The letter points out that many councils and the Welsh Government have already stopped charging for young people’s funerals.

The letter adds that for “a relatively modest amount of money” a major difference can be made to parents in their hour of need.

However some councils still charge thousands of pounds for child burials.

The annual bill for 5,000 funerals is £10million – which the Sunday Mirror wants the Government to foot.

Mum had £7,500 bill after deaths of two babies

(Image: Sunday Mirror) (Image: Sunday Mirror)

A single mum left with a £7,500 bill after losing two babies in just two years has pleaded for a change, saying: “Theresa May must listen.”

Melissa Watkin, 35, faced heartache when her son Christian-Lee was stillborn in December 2014. To pay the £3,000 funeral bill she took out a loan, which charged so much interest it more than doubled the amount she owed. She is still paying it off from her benefits.

When daughter Sophia-Grace Karen died at just eight weeks in 2016, only help from Melissa’s parents stopped her being buried in a pauper’s grave.

Melissa, of Hull, said: “I was left in absolute dire straits when I lost my children. I hardly had a penny to my name and had no idea how I was going to pay the funeral costs.

“I felt an utter failure. Not only had I lost my babies but I couldn’t afford to bury them. It seemed horrendously unfair. People like me need help.”