A FUNERAL turned into a fiasco after gravediggers tried to bury a man in the wrong plot, sent mourners to the pub while they dug another hole and made the second grave too small.

Grieving daughter Annie Breeze says she is so haunted by the sight of her father's coffin lid rattling as it was being wedged into the ground, above her late mother's remains, she is now on anti-depressants.

"You wouldn't bury a dog like this," said Mrs Breeze, who nursed her 88-year-old father Wilfred Edwards, of Callow End, until his death from lung cancer.

"I'm having nightmares about what happened, and I'm really angry."

She said the 60-strong party of mourners in Powick Parish Church were told by the funeral directors, Holland, of Barnards Green, there was to be a slight delay burying Mr Edwards in the churchyard.

"We were sent to the Red Lion pub and told we could have refreshments compliments of Holland's," said Mrs Breeze, of Lower Ferry Lane, Callow End.

"Then, when we got back and the funeral carried on, the grave was too small. All the flowers were falling off and the coffin wouldn't lower properly. The lid was loose and we were screaming. My brother shouted 'Take him back. We'll have another service.' We are left heartbroken."

Mrs Breeze, aged 58, said she was so traumatised by the funeral, which happened on Friday, September 22, she can talk about it only now and, despite having the estimated £1,600 bill waived by Holland, she is contemplating legal action.

"I just don't want this to happen to anyone ever again," she said.

Holland spokeswoman Sara Lipscombe, said the funeral directors were "sincerely sorry".

"We apologised to the family and to the friends," she said. "It was obvious this did not go it should have done and we regret the distress caused.

"This was not our usual service and we will ensure nothing like this happens again."

Mrs Breeze's sister, Ivy Maile, said she would have preferred the problems not to have been made public.

"The rest of the family does not go along with Annie," said the 60-year-old, from Gloucester.

"I think it's about time my dad had peace."