A holiday company has made an apparent embarrassing u-turn after receiving fierce criticism over a plan to evict customers due to the Queen’s funeral.

Centre Parcs announced on Tuesday that holidaymakers would be kicked out of its sites across the UK on Monday 19 September, the day of the Queen’s funeral.

Customers were left fuming after the company revealed its five parks will close for 24 hours from 10am on Monday.

Center Parcs issued statement over Queen’s funeral closure

Center Parcs said in a statement that it made the decision “as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment”.

It added: “We hope our guests will understand our decision to support our Queen on her final journey.

“All guests impacted by the closure will receive an email today explaining the options available.”

Read more: Queen’s family pay respects as her coffin arrives at Buckingham Palace

Customers who want to cancel their holidays are being offered a full refund, with partial refunds for those whose breaks will be shorter than booked.

Updated statement issued

However a new statement appears to have been posted on the company’s website, back-tracking on their initial claims.

“We have reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.”

“The villages will still remain closed on Monday and we will be offering a discount for the lack of facilities available on that day.”

Customers fume as Center Parcs closes for Queen’s funeral

Yet the anger is still felt among the many affected people who expressed their anger on Center Parcs’ Facebook page.

One wrote: “We were five related families getting together for our annual family holiday – with two small children and two dogs, three hours from home!

“Where the hell are we supposed to go for one night?! It’s that or cancel some or all of the much-anticipated holiday!

Center Parcs’ five UK sites are: Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Longleat Forest, Wiltshire; Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire; and Whinfell Forest, Cumbria.

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