THE devoted pony of a young Kent woman killed in a car crash will lead mourners at her funeral procession.

Kelly Ann Silverton, 24, died after the BMW in which she was travelling crashed in Main Road, Cooling earlier this month.

The 24-year-old hairdresser from Cliffe Woods in Medway was described as people person who was ‘absolutely devoted’ to animals.

Her beloved New Forest pony Bramble will draw her funeral carriage for the service on Thursday.

Kelly’s father Peter said: “She would make you laugh at every turn and was absolutely devoted to animals, especially Bramble.

“I was so proud of her and chuffed to be her dad.”

He added: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of messages we’ve received from hundreds of friends we never knew she had.”

Kelly set up her own mobile hairdressing business, Silvertongs, and was also a talented horserider, winning many prizes and competitions with Bramble.

Her mother Cheryl, said: “She seemed to have a calming effect around animals, especially horses. People used to call her the horse whisperer. She chose Bramble when she was about 11, and was devoted to her from then on.”

The funeral will be held at 11am at St Helen’s Church, Cliffe, on Thursday and Kelly will later be buried at Strood Cemetery in Cuxton Road.

Floral tributes are welcome and donations to be split between two horse sanctuaries can also be made to a charity account set up until February 9, 2008, which would have been Kelly’s 25th birthday.

Visit any HSBC bank, and donate cash into account number 11404695, sort code 404344.