A funeral director laid off a 64 year old woman because he wanted to replace her with a 'young fit blonde'.
An employment tribunal heard that blonde haired Rozamund Perrin was made redundant by the small family run business based on Dartmoor.
Miss Perrin said that the business, established in 1846, was run by father and son Fred and Jon Christophers.
But she claimed that Jon Christophers was an 'intimidating bully' who has fallen out with 40 year old funeral director Kate Parsons who later joined another funeral company.
Miss Perrin, from Stokeinteignhead, Devon, was originally employed as a receptionist in December 2009 at one of the firm's two offices in Newton Abbot, Devon.
Her job included taking in cremated remains, booking crematoria, placing obituaries, banking and dealing with clients amongst other duties.
She said Fred Christophers, now 74, 'trusted me sufficiently to leave me to manage the office'
When blonde haired Kate Parsons joined in 2012 as a funeral director, Miss Perrin shared some of the work which included preparing bodies for viewing, mortuary work and helping doctors certifying death.
But by 2013, the Exeter tribunal heard, Jon Christophers, who is in his late 40s, got more involved in the business.
Miss Perrin said:"I think Jon was threatened by Kate because she was an experienced funeral director. Jon used to make mistakes with funeral arranging and Kate would sort them out.
"Jon was very rude to Kate often swore at her. Often there didn't appear to be a particular reason for it. She was very upset by Jon's behaviour towards her. Kate eventually went off sick and never returned. Kate left in June 2013."
Miss Perrin said there was also an issue with the toilet at the office – there was only one for staff and clients.
She said six foot six inch tall Jon would 'use the toilet but leave it in a very unpleasant state'.
"When I raised the issue with him, he said 'that's your job'. I took that to mean he wanted me to clear up after him. I don't think Jon would have said that to a man."
She took on the daily cleaning of the loo because clients used it and 'I could not bear them to find it filthy'.
She was asked to apply for a new role within the company but did not get it – a younger woman got the post.
She claimed Jon verbally offered her the new job which she said she was doing anyway, the Exeter tribunal heard.
Miss Perrin was 'distraught' at the decision and went to see Fred Christophers who said 'we both felt you weren't up to it'.
She claimed he was making an ageist comment because she was 63 years old at that stage.
She told the hearing:"Since being dismissed, I became aware from Kate that Jon had a desire to replace me with a 'young fit blone'."
She has not been able to find any other work at other funeral directors in the area since and said she had hoped to keep working at Fred Christophers and Son until she was 70.
Miss Perrin said:"Mr Christophers (Jon) could be very intimidating on occasions. I was very capable. He dismissed me because he wanted someone younger. He was looking for a fit young blonde."
She said he should have cleaned up after himself in the toilet and found the task 'obnoxious'.
The tribunal ruled that she was unfairly dismissed and are now looking at sex and age discrimination claims.
Miss Perrin is seeking £45,000 damages.
The company deny sex and age discrimination and say she was not 'capable'.
She denies the firm's claims that she was bitter and acting out of bad feeling.
The hearing continues.
