Mock The Week panelist fights High Court battle with ex over right to spread ashes of her daughter

A TV comedian is battling it out with her ex-partner in High Court over the cremation and funeral of their daughter who has remained at a morgue for six months due to the dispute.

Mock the Week panelist Ava Vidal's daughter, Shaquelle, was found dead at an exclusive mental health clinic in London, in April.

The 23-year-old had long suffered with her mental health and had previously talked of suicide, before taking her life at the hospital.

Now her mother is in a bitter row with Shaquelle's father Edgar Harrison and her friends about who can attend the cremation and where to spread the ashes.

Ms Vidal told the court she wants to spread at least part of her daughter's ashes herself, Mr Harrison and others want them stored at a neutral location.

They are now fighting to prevent the mother-of-three from paying for the funeral of a child who they say wanted “nothing to do with” her mum.

Comedian and writer Ms Vidal told Judge Milwyn Jarman QC of her wish to be allowed to pay for Shaquelle's funeral and spread her ashes.

“I would like to pay for her funeral as her mother, I would like that as the last thing I can do for her,” she said in the hearing.

By her friends said allowing her mother to pay would be “an offence to what Kel clearly expressed” when she was alive.

Shaquelle was brought up by her mother, but struggled with mental health difficulties and consequently went to live with family in Barbados when she was in her mid-teens.

She returned when she was 18, severed ties with her mother and had no further contact with her before she took her life earlier this year.

Her father, with two of Shaquelle's friends, say she would not have wanted her mum involved in her funeral.

The parties are also arguing about who should be appointed personal representative of Shaquelle's estate in order to administer it. The hearing continues.