The family of a woman were forced to open the coffin at her funeral after a mix-up by the funeral directors.

Lesley Fullman and her husband Ron said they are still having nightmares after a wicker basket-style coffin arrived at the funeral of their 90-year-old mother Gladys Goddard, from Borehamwood.

The couple had arranged to bury Mrs Goddard in a traditional wooden coffin in the same grave as her husband, who died seven years ago, in accordance with her wishes.

But on the day of the funeral, which had been arranged by the East Finchley branch of Co-operative Funeralcare, Mrs Goddard’s body arrived in an eco-friendly wicker basket-style coffin — making the couple question if their mother was inside.

Mr Fullman said: “We had chosen not to see mum following her death, preferring to remember her as she was when she was alive.

“But at the cemetery, when the coffin arrived it was not what we had chosen. We had to ask the funeral director if he was sure she was inside.

“We were told we could cancel the funeral and rearrange, but all the guests had come from all over the country. So myself, my wife and my daughter had to go to the chapel, open the coffin and check.

“We had to sit through the ceremony angrily looking at this wicker basket. When the coffin was put in the grave we could see through the top, and although she was covered with a white shroud we could see the earth thrown going through the top.”

He added: “We still have nightmares thinking of the coffin being crushed under the weight of all the earth that was put on top of the coffin.”

The service was conducted on September 11 by the Rev Richard Leslie, of Borehamwood’s St Michaels and All Angels church, in Brook Road.

He said: “It is a pity a mix-up spoiled what was a lovely funeral. It is such a shame the service was ruined for the family as I have worked with Funeralcare many times and most of the time things go very smoothly.”

Following the burial at Islington and St Pancras Cemetery, in East Finchley, the couple wrote to Co-operative Funeralcare.

But despite repeated letters and phone calls they have been left angry at the response.

A spokeswoman for Co-operative Funeralcare said the mix-up was due to an administrative error.

She said: “We have written to Mr and Mrs Fullman six times, offering a full explanation and apology, as well as reducing the account by £935, representing the charge of £160 for the chosen coffin and full professional services charge of £775.”

But the family are refusing to pay for the funeral, saying they are prepared to take the issue to court.

Mr Fullman added: “It has all been too business-like. Being a bereaved family, having gone through the trauma we have, I would have thought they would have said ‘let’s forget the whole thing’ and sent us a bunch of flowers.

“I have given them many chances and they are still refusing to waive the cost.

“I have the money to pay for the whole funeral but I want to fight for mum.”