Co-op supervisor, 60, sacked after 23 years service for giving customer dying flowers for free

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A supermarket worker who let a customer have a bunch of dying flowers for free has paid with her job.

Mary Whitner, who had worked for the Co-op for 23 years, was told to quit or face the sack for giving away wilting carnations that were destined for the bin.

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Ultimatum: Mary Whitner was told to leave quietly or face the sack

The trouble started when a shopper tried to buy a bunch that was two days out of date.

"The lady is a really good customer, and was very upset when I said we had to throw the flowers in the bin," Mrs Whitner said.

"It's standard Co-op procedure. But she really wanted them to go with the other three bunches she was buying, so I removed the barcode and let her have them.

"They would only have gone to waste."

Mrs Whitner, 59, who was due to retire within days but had hoped to work on, said she was summoned to the boss's office and told to resign or be sacked.

The flowers, originally priced at £2.99, had been marked down to 75p before being earmarked for the bin.

Widower Ms Whitner, however, had not counted on another member of staff, whose identity is not known, informing bosses of her actions.

Ms Whitner was summoned by Co-op bosses after giving a customer a bunch of dying flowers destined for the dustbin (file picture)

She said: "I'm being treated like a thief. It was a bunch of dead flowers and a very loyal customer, but the HR department in Leeds called me up and told me to jump or be pushed. That's exactly what they told me."

The customer in question, Tricia Skinner, 54, has written to Co-op bosses demanding Mary be re-instated.

She said: "Mary is one of the most honest people I know. She has been the backbone of that store for a very long time - in fact 23 years. I think it's appalling the way she has been treated.

"It's absolutely disgusting, over a bunch of out-of-date flowers."

Other Co-op shoppers have also backed Mary and a petition is being set up to get her back.

Regular customer James Moy said: "Mrs Whitner was always cheerful, honest and very popular with all the customers.

She has been the victim of a gross injustice."

Mary, who is devastated by the loss of her job, says she received no verbal or written warning. Given a chance, she said she would have worked - on limited hours - beyond her retirement.

Now, she is facing a gloomy 60th birthday.

She said: "I love the customers to pieces and I love the job."

Customers at the store in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, including the woman who was given the flowers, are demanding Mrs Whitner be reinstated.

A Co-op spokesman said: "It is Co-operative Group policy not to discuss individual staff members publicly.

"However, I will add that in all staff matters, there are strict HR policies, agreed with relevant unions, that are adhered to by local management and HR personnel."

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