A national backlash has been sparked following our exclusive revelations involving a funeral directors in Rochester.

We reported last week how a husband was forced to break in and steal his mother-in-law's body after he was unable to contact the undertaker about funeral arrangements.

It prompted previous employers to come forward about the background of Karen Calder, who owns Butterfly Funeral Services and more claims of unpaid bills.

The man's desperate actions came to light after a series of issues were raised about the running of the High Street funeral parlour.

When bailiffs arrived to repossess the premises and seize goods they discovered 16 urns containing the ashes of loved ones.

Jo Loveridge, company director of Albany Funerals in Maidstone, said: “Karen Calder was employed by us for a very short period of time in 2009.

“We heard she was later employed by Maidstone Hospital as a mortuary assistant.

“We are deeply troubled and shocked by the revelations of this news story.”

Mother-of-two Ms Calder and her former partner hired storage space at Knights Park Industrial Estate in Strood where several vehicles were kept including funeral cars.

Company boss Lee Wild, who runs Wild Self Storage, said: “We were forced to remove goods from a unit because she could not keep up with the bills.

"She owed us a lot of money.

“But it would cost me too much to take her to court so I have just drawn a line under this.”

The article has also raised questions about how some funeral directors are allowed to operate without any regulation or qualification.

Medway Council’s Labour group leader, Cllr Vince Maple (Lab), has written to Medway’s three MPs urging them to take action.

In a letter to Kelly Tolhurst (Rochester and Strood), Rehman Chishti (Rainham and Gillingham) and Tracey Crouch, (Chatham), he outlined his shock at the case.

He said: “Clearly the situation which has happened will have been incredibly worrying for families involved.

"What has happened shows there is an absolute need to bring in a level of statutory regulation to make sure no further families end up in a similar situation" - Cllr Vince Maple

“Although there are two national professional organisations (National Board of Funeral Directors and National Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors) there is no compulsion for people or businesses to be members.

“What has happened shows there is an absolute need to bring in a level of statutory regulation to make sure no further families end up in a similar situation.

“I would be grateful if you could raise this with the appropriate government department to push for increased regulation in this sensitive area.”

Ms Calder has not responded when contacted about the claims over the last few days.

Last week she said she had been forced to shut her business “due to ill health” and “personal issues”.

She apologised to families who had not been able to get hold of her.

Following publication, the story was covered by newspapers, television and radio networks from across Britain and was also widely shared online.