OUTRAGED customers have slammed Spar bosses for keeping a shop open after a staff member collapsed and died.

The female employee took suddenly ill shortly after beginning her morning shift at the store — but management decided to continue trading.

Regular shopper Liz Canning yesterday blasted the decision as a 'disgrace' and vowed never to give Spar her custom again.

Mrs Canning said: "Out of common courtesy and decency surely the shop should have been closed for the day.

"Where was the respect for the woman?

"She served the company loyally, day in and day out, for years and years.

"I will never shop there again. I am disgusted at their attitude — all for profits regardless.

"Well, their profits will be a little bit lighter from now on because I'll be going elsewhere."

It is understood that the deceased woman collapsed within the shop in Wemyss Bay last Friday morning.

She lay motionless as paramedics rushed to the premises and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Villagers said they believed that the woman was in her 50s and lived in Skelmorlie.

Former customer Mrs Canning said: "She was one of their own working in a small community and the sad news has affected everyone.

"Surely to God they should have shut the shop.

"My daughter came home in tears and she couldn't understand why the other staff were still at their work."

Another Spar customer, who declined to be named, said: "The staff themselves would have been upset but they had to continue working.

"I'd imagine they'd have been frightened to speak up.

"People need their jobs."

The customer added: "I'm angry and disappointed that folk in charge decided to just carry on regardless.

"People in the village are in shock, not only at this lady's sudden passing, but also at the crass insensitivity of the management."

Spar is Scotland's biggest independent and local grocery group.

It has more than 300 convenience stores across the country.

Owners CJ Lang and Son Ltd, of Dundee, declined to respond to the criticism of keeping the Wemyss Bay shop open.

A spokesman for the firm said: "A member of the Spar team was taken ill while working at the Wemyss Bay store on Friday.

"An ambulance was called which took the individual away for medical treatment however unfortunately they have since died.

"Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this time."