McQueen ashes scattered on Scottish isle

The ashes of late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen have been scattered on the Isle of Skye off Scotland's west coast, in line with his final wishes, his family said Monday.

McQueen, who rose from a modest background to become one of the world's most flamboyant and high-profile designers, committed suicide in February on the day before his mother's funeral.

A family statement said: "On the 29th May 2010, Lee Alexander McQueen was laid to rest on the Isle of Skye.

"Lee cherished the times that he was able to spend on the Isle of Skye - he enjoyed the beauty, peace and tranquility. It was Lee's final request that his ashes should be buried at Kilmuir," it said.

They also thanked Isabella MacDonald and her family at the local Kinloch Lodge Hotel on Skye, "whose support at this sad time was of immense help in making it possible for them to carry out Lee's wishes."

The body of the 40-year-old was found hanged in a wardrobe in his central London flat. An inquest into his death concluded in April that he had taken cocaine, sleeping pills and tranquilisers before killing himself.

McQueen was one of fashion's superstars and designed for Givenchy before being creative director of his own label. His death cast a cloud over New York's and London's Fashion Week, which was just about to start when he died.LONDON, June 21, 2010 (AFP)