GRIEVING supermarket staff are in "uproar" over the funeral arrangements of a colleague who died in a car crash.
Hannah Sanders, 20, and her fiance Lee Palmer, 26 – who both worked at Morrisons in Oxted – died when their Renault Clio collided with a Toyota on April 25. Dozens of floral tributes lie at the crash scene in Titsey Road, Oxted.
But the aftermath of the tragedy is said to have upset store staff.
The funeral of Hannah, who lived in Wolfs Wood, Hurst Green, is due to take place today (Thursday) at Croydon Crematorium.
One employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Mirror: "Most of the 30 or so checkout team want to go to the funeral.
"We have been told we are allowed three hours out of work for it.
"But how can distraught staff be expected to resume work on such a sad day?"
She said when a colleague asked a manager if staff could take the whole day off, she was told no, "because it's business".
The employee said to the Mirror: "It's disgusting. There is uproar over it. Why doesn't the store shut for the day as a mark of respect?"
The young couple, who got engaged last September, had been poised to start a new life together.
On the very day of the crash, they had picked up the keys to their new flat in Edenbridge.
Mr Palmer, who lived in Woldingham, was a trainee butcher.
His sweetheart was a customer services assistant.
Mr Palmer's funeral takes place on Monday – when those in the supermarket's butcher's section will be allowed to attend.
Meanwhile, dozens of floral tributes lie at the crash scene in Titsey Road, Oxted.
One reads: "You will be both thoroughly missed by the Morrison's family.
"Two smiling people in heaven."
Morrisons spokeswoman Claire Johnson said "We absolutely understand that a number of colleagues wish to attend the funerals of their friends, who were extremely popular, and so we have made provision for colleagues who wish to go to the funerals to attend.
"As a result we will not need to close the store."
She declined to elaborate on why the grieving staff attending the funeral should not be granted the whole day off.
