Tears as wheels fall off hearse on way to funeral

Mourners were left in tears after a horse-drawn hearse lost two of its wheels on the way to a funeral.

The carriage is thought to have hit black ice as the procession travelled along Portsdown Hill Road to Portchester Crematorium.

Two of the four horses veered off, causing the hearse to lose control.



Luckily the accident didn't dislodge the coffin, which was transferred to a following motor hearse. The funeral was able to go ahead on time.

Funeral-director firm Meridian Funerals offered its sympathy to the family. Spokeswoman Ruth Chadwick said: 'We understand from the carriage masters who supplied and drove the horse-drawn hearse, that one set of reins broke, due possibly to hitting black ice, causing two of the four horses to veer to the right and turn against the carriage.'The wooden spokes snapped, resulting in the carriage touching the ground.'

She added: 'No-one nor any of the horses was injured as a result of the incident and the family and mourners still arrived at the crematorium on time. We have expressed our regret to the family concerned, and will be visiting them later this week.'We've never experienced such an incident before.'