Burying them in a casket, scattering them on the ground or treasuring them in a safe place packed in an urn are normally what relatives do with the ashes of a loved one.

But an art student from West Norwood has come up with an alternative way to use human ashes and the results will be on show next month.

Mother-of-two Emma Fenelon's interest in the artistic use of ashes was sparked by a series of lectures she attended during her degree course at Camberwell Art College, where students and tutors discussed how different types of tree ash can create different effects when used in ceramics' glaze.

After being told human ashes can also produce similar effects she decided to focus her final degree exhibition on investigating the issue by using them in a glaze she will apply to five clay trees.

Two families replied to her publicised appeals for human ashes and she is now preparing to put the five trees, covered in the glaze, on display in a month's time.

Former computer consultant Emma, 50, of Thornlaw Road said: "I wanted to do something that could potentially change what the trees were, something personal and not just personal to me.

"I can add things to the tree that belong to me but the viewer won't have an emotional response to the tree. Human ash is something we can all relate to and we all share, so suddenly everybody who looks at trees will have something in common with them."

Emma made an appeal for people to donate their relatives' ashes during an interview on BBC London radio and also posted her request on the online market Ebay.

In the process of making the glaze she will re-fire the ashes, which makes them change colour.

She hopes to be able to put more time into studying the effects of using human ash in art once she has found a studio to work in when her degree course ends.

Emma added: "I think I have struck a chord with people and the response to my work has been very positive.

"Some people have a lot of problems scattering ashes. Some told me they found it embarrassing to tip as much ash as we as humans create, and you are also not allowed to scatter them in certain places so I think people may be looking around for things to do with their ashes."

Emma's final degree show will be on display at Camberwell Art College from June 27 to July 1.

Her display will then be moved to the 12th Art in Clay National Pottery and Ceramics Festival, Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, from August 4-6.