A GRIEVING daughter claims a funeral director told her they had to shut her father’s coffin “because he was starting to smell."

Vicky Coleman contacted Westhoughton Funeral Services following the death of her father Francis Leadbetter, on July 11.

The 68-year-old, of Westhoughton, had taken out a funeral plan and wanted his funeral to be carried out by the same funeral service as his wife.

However the plan did not cover the full costs of the funeral and Mrs Coleman claims she was “harassed” by the company for money.

She also claims that when she went to the Westhoughton Funeral Services in Leigh Road, the day before the funeral, a member of staff told her they had shut her father’s coffin “because he had began to smell” a comment which she claims was said in front of her children.

The 42-year-old, who lives in Cornwall, said: "I couldn’t believe he had said that to me, but to say it in front of my father's grandchildren, he just didn’t care.

"I was so shocked he had a complete lack of compassion."

Mrs Coleman, who works as a social worker, also claims that on stepping out of the funeral car, following her father's service at Howe Bridge Crematorium she was asked to settle the funeral bill.

She added: "He just said to me 'can I have the rest of my money now?'

"It is unforgivable that they could behave like that.

"I completely understand that the plan didn’t cover the costs, I never had any issue with paying the money but we could have had those type of conversations after the funeral, when I was not as upset."

However a spokesman for Westhoughton Funeral Services said Mrs Coleman had said she was "satisfied" with their service.

The spokesman added: "We have never ever had a complaint before in the 40 years I have been here.

"We went over and above to help Mrs Coleman and have never harassed her for money.

"She had bought flowers for her father's funeral from us, which were £325 and she paid £300, I paid the £25 out of my own pocket. When she was dropped off after the funeral all I said was 'sorry my love can I have the rest of the money for the flowers?' We are still £900 out of pocket for the shortfall of the funeral costs.

"She had to be informed about us closing the coffin to avoid distress of going into the room and smelling it.

"I said it as discretely as I could, her children were at the back of the room, but there are not many ways of saying it."