A FUNERAL directors handed a distraught daughter her mum in a 'TAKEAWAY BAG' after they misplaced the ashes for five days.

Co-Op Funeralcare used a cardboard box wrapped in a plastic bag to give Kathleen O’Brien, 54, her mum after she died last month.

Bungling staff had "fobbed off” the daughter for five days after they failed to organise for Rita Ann Stanley’s ashes to be collected from the crematorium. Kathleen was convinced the funeral parlour had lost her mum, 87, who died in hospital after falling at her care home in Streatham, south London.

She said: “When I finally got her back she was wrapped in a blue plastic takeaway bag, it was like picking up your dinner on a Friday night. I was devastated. I knew they had lost her and they were not even admitting it.

"My mum has never been out of my sight. I was her carer it was just awful to know she was in limbo, and I trusted them.”

It's not the first time Co-Op Funeralcare have come under fire for their insensitivity when handing over cherished loved one. In an online review one customer of the Co-Op Funeralcare in Battersea, south London, said his dad was also placed inside "fast food" packaging.

The reviewer said: "We were mortified when we were given back my father presented to us in a paperbag only described as looking like fast food takeaway. Very unprofessional and left a bad taste would never use these people again my dad deserved more respect than to be given back like a food parcel.

“Co Op you should be ashed of yourselves, you certainly didnt give my beloved dad the respect he deserved when you returned him to us.”

Co-Op claim they usually remove the ashes from the plastic bag and place them inside a paper container before they are collected. They insisted Mrs Stanley’s ashes were never lost and blame staff sickness for misplacing the ashes.

Bosses apologised to Kathleen last night and admitted mistakes had been made.

Kathleen added: “We spoke prior to the funeral and they said to me that I could pick her up the next day after the cremation.

“But I phoned them and they said no, she is not ready and I asked when can I come and collect her and they said to me Tuesday or Wednesday. They fobbed me off. I spent Monday trying to contact them but I could not get through and there was nobody answering the phone and no answering machine.

"I started to realise that something was not right and on Tuesday they were saying how sorry they were. They kept apologising to me and saying this should not be happening and that there had been a mix up."

A Co-Op spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise to Ms O’Brien for the upset and distress caused when she arrived to collect the ashes of her late Mum, Rita Ann Stanley.

“At the Co-op we take great care in supporting families following a bereavement. Our usual approach following a cremation ensures that ashes are returned in a respectful manner and loved ones are kept fully informed.

“We would like to offer our reassurance to Ms O’Brien that her late mum’s ashes remained appropriately cared for at all times.

“Due to staff sickness we recognise that mistakes were made when it came to arranging for the collection of the late Mrs Stanley’s ashes. This shouldn’t have happened and we are truly sorry.”