This is the unbelievable moment a coffin was pushed uphill to a cemetery after the hearse broke down on the way to the funeral.

Julie Wilson, who died of pneumonia at the age of 56, was wheeled half a mile on a trolley to her final resting place at St Gluvias Cemetery in Penryn, Cornwall by six determined pallbearers.

Footage of the episode was captured by her widower Tug Wilson, 57, who admitted that everyone involved saw the funny side, despite the sad occasion.

Pallbearers from the funeral directors, led by the priest, were forced to push the coffin uphill to the cemetery

Julie Wilson died suddenly on March 31 aged 56, after battling with pneumonia and other health problems

The former security guard likened the scene to a Carry On film and said it felt like it was his wife's way of having the last laugh before saying goodbye.

Tug said: 'We were ready to go when I saw the funeral director, Roy, get out of the car and get on his mobile. I went over and said "what's happening?" He said the hearse had broken down.

'Julie let me know she was still with me, first by making the track of Edelweiss skip a few beats during the service and second once back in the hearse to go to the cemetery the hearse wouldn't start.

'Unable to get the back-up, Roy from Penryn and Falmouth Funeral Directors, who have looked after Julie this last week, made the decision to walk her round to the cemetery with dignity.

'A few things have gone wrong since she passed - my Sky went down and my electric fire keeps clicking on and off. I told Roy that it was Julie and she didn't want to leave me.

'I thought I had to get a video of it - it's typical Julie looking down and saying "got ya!" I'm going to try and get it [the video] sped up and put the Benny Hill theme over the top.'

Footage of the episode was captured by her widower Tug Wilson, 57, who admitted that everyone involved saw the funny side, despite the sad occasion

Widower Tug likened the scene to a Carry On film and said it felt like it was his wife's way of having the last laugh before saying goodbye

The memorial service for Julie, of Penryn, Cornwall, had just taken place at St Gluvias Church on Tuesday when the hearse, from Penryn and Falmouth Funeral Directors, refused to open its doors.

The pallbearers, led by the vicar carrying a bronze cross, decided to go the extra mile and push the coffin all the way up the very steep hill to the cemetery at the top.

Tug filmed the whole episode from the back of a Mercedes as the determined men slowly trudged up the hill.

The coffin was confronted by vehicles coming in the opposite direction and at one point there was a close shave with a Land Rover and later a lorry.

Speaking about the funeral directors, Tug said: 'My thanks go to them and I would recommend his firm to anybody they go that extra mile.'

Tug filmed the whole episode from the back of a Mercedes as the determined men slowly trudged up the hill

The coffin was confronted by vehicles coming in the opposite direction and at one point there was a close shave with a Land Rover

Julie, died suddenly on March 31 after battling with pneumonia and other health problems. The couple had been married for five years.

Described by Tug as a 'strong natured' and 'stubborn woman', she had a The Sound of Music themed funeral - and was buried in a nun's outfit, similar to the ones in the film.

'We discussed that she had never owned a nun's outfit before,' said Tug, a Bradford native.

'I said to her: "If and when you die, I'll bloody bury you in one." And I did!'

The hearse eventually had to be loaded onto a low loader and returned to the manufacturer under its warranty.