Phil Spencer has thanked villagers after a memorial service for his parents who died in a car accident on their Kent farm last month.

In a tribute to David and Anne Spencer, their TV presenter son said for the couple to “go side by side after 60 years is a beautiful thing”.

The devoted couple, who lived at Lower Garrington Farm at Littlebourne, near Canterbury, were in a Toyota which toppled off a narrow bridge in a field at the farm and turned upside down into the stream below.

The parents-of-four were widely loved and respected across the farming and wider community.

Their deaths prompted huge sadness and messages of sympathy to their family from across east Kent.

Mr and Mrs Spencer, who had eight grandchildren, were buried together on Friday.

A memorial service to celebrate their lives was held the following day at St Vincent's Church in Littlebourne where Anne, 82, was a member of the parochial church council and David, 89, a sidesman.

Speaking on Instagram, Phil said: “When we buried mum and dad on Friday, and celebrated their lives with a memorial service on Saturday, we had many thank yous to say to our community in Kent.

“But I wanted to say a very large thank you beyond that, for the dozens of bunches of flowers, hundreds of letters and cards, and thousands of kind and thoughtful messages I’ve received over the last few weeks.

“The shock and sadness is immense, but I’d like you to know it has been diluted by such huge support from so many friends and followers.”

The Location, Location, Location presenter said his family has “appreciated every single kind word, message and prayer”.

He added: “They have helped to bring some smiles and laughter in amongst our sadness.

“We continue to give thanks for, and at times are even managing to be able to celebrate, the fact that mum and dad were able to live, to love and then to leave their beloved farm together.

“None of us get to choose how we depart this world - but as a family we know in our heart of hearts that to go side by side next to your partner of 60 years is a beautiful thing.

“It would 100% have been what they would have wished for, and so we accept it in its entirety, and we thank God for his presence and for his remarkable plan.”

His co-presenter Kirstie Allsopp commented: “I was so struck at the service on Saturday by the enormous affection and respect for your mum and dad from those on and around the farm.

“They were so proud of you all, and you can be so proud to have had them as parents.

“They lived kind and worthwhile lives, and that knowledge is in itself a blessing and an example.”

David and Anne first met at a New Year's Eve party in Canterbury in the early 1960s.

He was the son of a bank manager who studied engineering at Loughborough University, where he also excelled at hockey, and she was the daughter of a GP and a teacher at Waltham Primary School.

After a spell in finance in London, David followed his heart and bought Lower Garrington Farm.

On the day of the tragedy, the pair had just left the farmhouse shortly after 12.30pm, with Anne intending to drive them to a pub for lunch.

But she is believed to have misjudged a narrow bridge across a stream on the access road to the farm which led to the vehicle toppling over into the water.

Phil said on Instagram at the time the pair “would have held hands under the water and quietly slipped away”.

The TV personality, alongside brother Robert, 56, and sisters Caryn, 51, and Helen, 48, paid tribute to their parents while remembering the idyllic upbringing they provided.

They spoke about their parents’ many passions and contributions to the community.