A WOMAN on her way to a family funeral had her clothes and car splattered with white paint in a supermarket car park after staff failed to clean it up.

Debra Bowden, 49, has criticised the Loughton branch of Marks and Spencer after the incident yesterday morning, in which she and her cousin were covered in the sticky liquid after they stopped at the shop to buy food for a service for her late aunt.

Ms Bowden, who has difficulty walking and is a blue badge holder, had parked in the only available disabled bay, and was forced to navigate the large amount of paint lying in a pool nearby, with many vehicles driving through the substance splashing her car as they drove past.

Despite the spillage being cordoned off with cones, she said the manager of the shop claimed not to be aware of it.

She said: “I'm appalled by what happened.

“I got paint all over my trousers and shoes, they're absolutely ruined.

“I had to rush home and change, and I ended up being ten minutes late.

“My cousin had come all the way from Billericay so he couldn't change, and had to go to the funeral with all the paint on his clothes.

“The whole day was marred by it. I will remember that day for the rest of my life, but for all the wrong reasons.

“Marks and Spencer are supposed to be a family company but they've left a bitter taste in my mouth.”

She added: “I think the public should know that if you park in a shop's car park they won't take responsibility for anything that happens. It's absurd.”

Ms Bowden has complained to Epping Forest District Council's environmental health department, who have told her they will investigate whether the supermarket breached any health and safety protocol.

When Ms Bowden initially complained to the chain they refused to compensate her for the damaged clothes.

But after being contacted by the Guardian, a spokeswoman for the supermarket said they would replace her clothes and those of her cousin afterall.

She added: "We apologise to Ms Bowden and her cousin over this unfortunate incident.

"Paint had been spilled in the car park and it was cleaned up thoroughly as soon as the store management was made aware of it."