Tony Blair was challenged whilst making a radio broadcast on Thursday by a mother who lost her son in the tsunami disaster.

Linda Lilley asked why her son's body had yet to be flown home, despite being identified by friends 11 days ago.

At first, the prime minister said: "I don't know the answer, but if you allow me to take your details from the radio programme, I will find out and write to you personally. I simply cannot answer that."

He then added: "I'm sorry, what I can do, when I said write, what I mean is, we can get in contact with you and I'm very, very sorry about what has happened.

"I would like to offer you my complete condolences and I will get someone to phone you and talk to you later this evening."

Lilley said she was unimpressed, saying: "I was shocked, confused, in disbelief.

"I thought 'where the hell do I go now?'"