A grieving son has penned a Christmas song for his late mum, inspired by notes she wrote him before her death.

Musician Paul Baker, 64, discovered the heartfelt words after his mum, Marjorie, died aged 97 in a care home in September, following a battle with dementia.

The Deal retiree has now released the track, named Dear Mum (Missing you this Christmas), which includes excerpts from the handwritten notes.

Singer Jacob Andrews provides the vocals, while an actor plays a younger version of Mr Baker in the music video, filmed in his mum’s home on London Road, Deal.

Mr Baker, a member of band Daniel Takes a Train, which has more than 8,800 monthly listens on Spotify, said: “I found these amazing notes she’d written, one was in the hankie drawer next to the bed and it said ‘Paul don’t be sad, you are such a wonderful son, you’re so loved.’

“It was incredible that she’d thought of all these lovely things to do, which must have been three years ago before she went into the care home.

“It was lovely to feel like she was still there, looking out for me and being a mum. She still wanted to reassure me, even though I’m 64 now, that she was proud of me.”

Mrs Baker looked after prisoners of war during the Second World War, going on to run two care homes.

“She made everyone feel special…I felt I needed to write a tribute to her and the song wrote itself really because of her amazing notes,” her son, who worked in recruitment before retiring, said.

The keen musician composed the song with friend Simon Pollitt over a five-hour Zoom call, because they don’t live near each other.

Although the reflective track is a different take on a Christmas song, Mr Baker feels it will resonate with many.

“One of my neighbours says she went home and started writing notes for her children after being inspired by the song. It’s amazing to be almost inspiring a movement,” he said.

“One person messaged me on Linkedin and said they lost both their parents within a year of each other. The fact that it has helped someone who I have never met before is just lovely.”

Mr Baker is also hoping the track will encourage people to donate to his JustGiving page for Marie Curie. Donations can be made here.

The London Road resident decided to set this fundraiser up after nurses from the charity supported him and his husband, David, who died two years ago after a battle with leukaemia.