Taxi delay widow misses funeral

A taxi firm in Plymouth has apologised to a widow who missed her husband's funeral after her taxi turned up late.

Eileen Mace, 84, was collected from the nursing home where she had lived with her late husband William, also 84, five minutes after the funeral had started.

When she got to Weston Mill Crematorium on Monday, the service was over. It could not be delayed as another funeral was booked immediately afterwards.

Plymouth Taxis said it had apologised and launched an investigation.

She arrived just in time to see the coffin going through the curtains at the crematorium David Mace, son

The couple's son David Mace said his mother had been left "heartbroken".

"She arrived just in time to see the coffin going through the curtains at the crematorium," he said.

The Warwick Park Nursing Home had pre-booked the taxi a week before the funeral service.

It was supposed to arrive at 0830 GMT on Monday, half-an-hour ahead of the service, but arrived 35 minutes late.

Mr Mace said that due to his mother's numerous disabilities, she could not be easily transported in an ordinary car.