More than 200 people attended a meeting to create a support group for bereaved families, who discovered that the organs of loved ones had been retained in Oxford hospitals.

Among those at the meeting at the Exeter Hall, Kidlington, on Wednesday, were two mothers from Alder Hey, where the scandal of retained body parts caused a national outcry.

Linda Gleeson, who last year held a reuniting service for her son, Mark, who died 16 years ago, said after the meeting: "People are still angry and frustrated. I was eventually able to obtain Mark's brain and hold a special service on the anniversary of his death. But 250 people are still awaiting answers. "I welcome the idea of a support group, because I am sure this will give bereaved parents a much stronger voice in the months to come."

Linda Watson, of the Community Health Council, said: "There was a lot of emotion. People still want to know why this was allowed to go on for so long and learn about their rights, including the possibility of legal action."

Oxford hospitals retained 4,200 organs, mainly brains.

Dr Waney Squier, a neuropathologist at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, said: "Pathologists welcome the support group. We have not previously had the opportunity to explain to the public the importance of the study of pathology in making diagnoses and in the understanding of human diseases. We would be pleased to answer questions and provide further information."