AN award-winning West Somerset funeral director has hit out at impatient drivers who are increasingly overtaking her hearse and limousine during their cortege.

Amanda-Louise Knight said: “It will only be a matter of time when a collision happens.

“Last week, as I paced out in front of our hearse in honour of the deceased in the main high street in Minehead, three vehicles overtook us at speed while there was an oncoming car.

“Not only is this disrespectful to the deceased, it is dangerous.

“There could have been a vehicle collision, or even resulting in the passers by who were walking on the pavement or even myself being injured.

“It resulted in me having to stop the procession and to stop more vehicles trying to overtake.

“The family member in our limousine was very upset by the lack of compassion and empathy toward them.

“I would please urge all drivers to give all funeral directors just a few moments to carry out their role in honouring the dead on the day of their funeral.

“We only pace for a short time, then return to our hearse where we will aim to keep to the road speed.”

Ms Knight, who more than 30 years ago founded the women-led Amanda-Louise Funeral Services, in Minehead, is the winner of this year’s SME News best independent funeral directors in Somerset and bereavement care excellence awards.

She said: “As a compassionate, modern lady-led funeral directors, we are on a mission to provide a fresh approach to funerals with a unique and inspiring set of standards, choice, and genuine openness.

“Our goal is simple yet powerful, not to have to follow rigid funeral traditions from the Victoria era, to make you feel inspired and personally supported.

“Our fundamental belief is that we are all unique and special in life, so our funerals can be, too.”