Scott Ralston, 44, had been a senior funeral director for Co-operative Funeralcare in Glasgow for almost 17 years when he was dismissed last November.

Mr Ralston, from Crookston in Glasgow, who works in promotions for a soft drinks firm, said management visiting from Manchester complained about his tyres squealing.

He has now been awarded £30,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal which found in his favour.

The father of two had been suspended for 21 days in October and "couldn't believe it" when he was taken into the office and sacked on his return.

Mr Ralston, from Crookston in Glasgow, said: "It was surreal. I thought I'd be taken in and they'd have seen sense. I fully expected them to say 'we're just having a laugh'.

"I was gutted. I had an unblemished record. My passenger even verified my side of the story."

He said the incident happened as he was driving with four corpses round the one-way system towards the exit in the mortuary and garage complex.

Mr Ralston said the polished concrete floor meant his tyres made a noise as he was driving past senior management.

He said he was travelling no faster than six or seven miles per hour.

He added: "There were four remains in the van and we were taking them out to parlours so people could pay their respects.

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"We had loaded the van up and drove round the garage. It was a smooth concrete floor. Tyres squeal there about 40 times a day and I was doing no more than six or seven miles an hour.

"You simply can't drive fast as there are vehicles and limousines."

Mr Ralston, who now works in promotions for a soft drinks firm, said: "I feel totally vindicated and am delighted I won the case.

"I thank the tribunal for seeing a bit of common sense."

A spokesman for Co-operative Funeralcare said: "We are extremely disappointed at the outcome of the tribunal.

"Treating the deceased with the utmost dignity and respect is of paramount importance and is reflected in our staff training.

"Unfortunately, on this occasion, we felt that to drive a vehicle carrying four deceased in such a manner in the funeral home's premises was totally unacceptable.

"The tribunal accepted completely that the Co-operative Funeralcare places respect for the deceased at the heart of its operation and that any action by employees that was considered to detract from this attitude could attract a disciplinary action.

"The tribunal also accepted that the Co-operative Funeralcare genuinely believed that Scott Ralston had been guilty of driving in a reckless fashion."

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