The grieving husband of Paul O'Grady says a funeral procession will take place this week in the Kent village the TV star called home.

Andre Portasio has thanked people in Aldington, near Ashford, for the support they have shown him since the 67-year-old's tragic death last month.

He has also invited residents to line the streets to pay their respects during the funeral procession, which will see some roads in the village closed on Thursday.

Details have been shared to more than 15,000 people across various Facebook groups, including the Radio Ashford page.

The procession will be followed by a private funeral, separate from a public celebration of Mr O'Grady's life at Port Lympne wild animal park, near Hythe.

Posting in Facebook community groups yesterday evening, Mr Portasio said: "I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of support and love I have received since the passing of our beloved Paul O’Grady.

"Your kind messages, beautiful flowers, and thoughtful texts of condolences have brought me comfort and solace during this difficult time.

"I’m incredibly grateful for the support and love I have received from our community, and we want to thank each and every one of you for your kindness and generosity.

"As a mark of respect and as Paul would have wanted, we will be holding a private funeral on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

"While the funeral will be a private ceremony, as many of you know, Paul cared a lot about his local community.

"We have therefore requested that the funeral procession passes through Aldington before heading to the church, as a way of marking Paul’s affection for the village."

The procession will begin at 2.10pm on Thursday and last until 2.45pm. Residents attending are asked to stand on Roman Road, Forge Hill, or New Road Hill.

Church Road and Knoll Hill - where Mr O'Grady's home is - will be closed on the day of the event.

Mr Portasio adds: "We kindly ask everyone to respect the family's wishes and maintain social distancing throughout the event. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time."

The cause of Mr O'Grady's death was confirmed last week, with his official death certificate saying he died from sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

The British Heart Foundation describes that as a cardiac arrest with no known cause.