A fuming dad has demanded compensation after his Asda shopping melted in the heat after his taxi was delayed.

Melvin Lee, who lives in Folkestone, Kent, claims he was left waiting for an hour in the sweltering heat last Bank holiday Monday after the cab "drove straight past them".

The 40-year-old says he was forced to throw out half his food shopping, which included ice cream and frozen vegetables and it left his baby stressed.

Mr Lee told Kent Live that he dialed Folkestone Taxis to come and get him, his girlfriend Clare Rogers, 43, and eight-month old baby Edward after finishing his £45 food shop in Asda from the Bouverie Place shopping centre.

(Image: kentlive)

However Folkestone Taxis say Mr Lee was only left waiting for 31 minutes.

Mr Lee said: "One taxi pulled up and took another couple.

"My baby was stressed while waiting.

"I would like some compensation and for them to pay for the shopping I have lost.

"They said 20 minutes, then an hour, they left me outside Asda losing all my ice cream because it melted."

The Asda brand ice cream can be bought for about £1.50.

(Image: kentlive)

A spokesman for Folkestone Taxis told Kent Live that there was a shortage of drivers on the Bank Holiday.

He also said complaints made to the company are taken very seriously.

The spokesman said: “All our drivers are self-employed, so they can choose their own hours.

Show more

"We can’t dictate what hours they work.

“Mr Lee was told the taxi would be a minimum of 20 minutes – however it was 31 minutes, not an hour.

"Send him round with his receipt and I’ll reimburse him myself.

"I did tell Mr Lee, he shops in Asda, I don’t think they really do any expensive ice cream."