Saturday, February 09, 2008

Bolting funeral horses run away with coffin

Mourners were mortified when a horse hearse horror turned a funeral into a fracas.

Relatives reeled as the horse-drawn carriage containing the coffin of their lost loved one was tipped over and dragged 80m through Lambeth Cemetery after one of the animals bolted.

Mourners watched in disbelief as the coffin was tossed around inside the funeral carriage sending floral tributes flying.

Police then had to be called when mourners' shock turned to anger at the unexpected accident on the sombre occasion.

But the funeral went ahead after officers diffused the volatile situation and calmed tempers.

One mourner said: "It was dreadful. The horses dragged the carriage through the cemetery on its side, tossing the coffin all over the place and destroying all the flowers inside. I couldn't believe what had happened. Some people got very angry and had to be restrained by other mourners."

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