MEMBERS of the public have offered support to staff at a Co Derry retail store after they threatened to defy an order to close for Queen Elizabeth's funeral.
The SuperValu store in Dungiven closed for three hours yesterday during the royal funeral.
The planned closure sparked controversy last week after staff threatened to defy the order.
Musgrave NI, which owns the SuperValu brand, said "the store will remain operational and staff who wish to continue to work on Monday can do so".
As planned the store's doors were closed at around 10.30am yesterday.
Several people said they had travelled to Dungiven to support staff in their stance.
One couple from Swatragh said "we are here to support the workers".
A man, who had travelled from Kilrea, a round trip of approximately 34 miles, said he also came to show his solidarity with shop workers.
"I came up to support the workers because it's up to them if they want to work or not ," he said.
"I drove from Kilrea to get coffee and the lotto. I came up...because I think they (staff members) did right."
Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey was outside SuperValu yesterday morning to help ensure "there was no hassle".
"A lot of people are here this morning and they are making a point to come and support the staff and workers," he said.
"After today we will move on, there are bigger issues at stake."
Several businesses, including retail outlets, remained open in Dungiven all day yesterday, while others were closed as normal on a Monday.
Meanwhile, a free food facility which faced calls to close from a Church of Ireland minister kept its doors open to the public yesterday.
Rev Mark Loney also provoked controversy when he called for a Community Fridge, which encourages people to donate goods that are then redistributed, to be shut for the funeral.
Rev Loney, who is rector at Dungiven and Bovevagh Church of Ireland, wrote to Dungiven Regeneration Club (DRC) earlier this week urging the free food service to close.
Details of the email emerged after it was revealed that Rev Loney's wife, Jo, has also contacted two businesses in the town asking if they intended to shut.
DRC chair Geraldine Murphy said the group decided to keep the food facility open "because we are a community group and see the needs of the community".
"It's important for the people who need it, who use it, to be open.
"We have regular users and we had a couple of people asking if we would be open."
Mr McGlinchey, who also visited the food facility yesterday, said it was important for the service to remain open.
"It's cross-community and it's important that it stays open and gets further support," he said.
"This is the sort of thing that will be needed in the future and is a project that can develop."
The Irish News reported on Saturday nationalists in Dungiven have warned they may reconsider their approach to an annual Orange Order parade after Rev Loney's closure call.
