A senior officer at Edinburgh City Council has resigned following publication of a report into the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal.

Mark Turley was the most senior director at the department governing the crematorium, which was recently condemned for secretly burying baby ashes without the knowledge of parents.

The director of services for communities denied any personal wrong doing but said resignation was now the ‘honourable thing to do’.

Edinburgh City Council suspended Turley in May in order to conduct an internal investigation.

A dossier published at the time by Dame Elish Angiolini found potentially hundreds of parents had been affected by failures at Mortonhall Crematorium.

A statement from the council confirmed that the investigation would now be closed following Turley’s departure.

Turley said: ‘Whilst I do not believe I personally contributed to any wrong doing at Mortonhall Crematorium, as the director with ultimate accountability I believe it is right that I do the honourable thing in recognition of working practices at Mortonhall as criticised in Dame Elish Angiolini’s recent report. I have therefore asked the chief executive to accept my resignation.

‘I would like to thank the many partners and colleagues who have supported me through this difficult period and wish them all well for the future.’

Chief executive of Edinburgh City Council, Sue Bruce, said: ‘Mark has made a significant contribution to this council and to the city over the past 20 years, in particular in relation to the provision of housing. I respect the decision he has taken in these difficult circumstances.

‘Mark leaves with our best wishes for the future.’