WITH less than a week before a pre-inquest hearing into the Birmingham pub bombings, the Stourbridge family of one victim is bewildered that they have not yet been granted legal aid.

Paul Rowlands’ father John was one of 21 people killed in the double IRA blasts at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern In The Town pubs on November 21, 1974.

Mr Rowlands, and his wife Soraya, are among nine families who have been tirelessly campaigning for a special funding model to help pay their legal costs at the reopened inquest into the deaths.

The families are gathering this evening (Monday, November 21) for a memorial service at Birmingham Cathedral to mark the 42nd anniversary of the tragedy.

Paul, from Lye, who was just 11-years-old when his father was killed, told the News: “It is going to be a tough day for all of the families, the memorial services always are, but it is so important that we mark the anniversary and have this time to remember our family members together as an 'extended family'.”

After meeting with Home Secretary Amber Rudd in September, the families were optimistic of establishing funding similar to that created for the families represented at the Hillsborough stadium disaster inquests.

However - Ms Rudd turned down the request, but said she would support their legal aid bid through the conventional route of the independent Legal Aid Agency.

But with the pre-inquest hearing set to get underway in Birmingham on Monday, November 28, the families have still not been granted legal aid.

Paul said: “We have submitted applications but have still not heard anything. So I have no idea where we can go from here.

“It is unbelievable and something I just cannot understand. The police have received funding for the inquest but the victims’ families haven’t, so I see that as them getting a bit of a helping hand.

“I find the entire situation very odd and very strange.

“We just want parity with the police and we truly believe that we have the right to be funded in the same way as the Hillsborough families were.

“We have put a lot into this, a lot of our own money, but without the funding I don’t know how we can go forward.”

The 53-year-old added: “We are still in contact with Legal Aid, have written to Amber Rudd again and now we are just waiting for a final decision, but only with legal aid can we move forward.

“If we are unsuccessful, then this [requesting a delay into the final inquest] will be something we will have to discuss with the coroner.”

To mark the 42nd anniversary - the families have joined together with Midlands artists including Roy Wood, Jasper Carrot and Steve Gibbons to launch a charity album, entitled 21 today.

The limited edition double CD, which includes 21 songs in memory of the 21 victims, will be in aid of Acorn Children’s Hospice.

It will be launched at a special event between 1pm and 5pm this afternoon (November 21) at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena where some of the bands involved will play live.

To buy the album, which costs £12.99 plus £2 postage and packing, visit www.21-today.com