TWO Kent schools will close tomorrow as a mark of respect to a head teacher killed in a road crash.

The funeral of 41-year-old Sue Murrell will take place at St John's Church, Barham, near Canterbury, at 3pm.

Mrs Murrell, head of Barham school and former assistant head of nearby Bridge school, died when her Ford Fiesta was in collision with a lorry on the Adisham Road, near Aylesham, last Thursday.

The Rev David Roper, Rector of Barham and chairman of the school governors, who will take tomorrow's service, described Mrs Murrell as "dynamic and positive" with "vitality and vision".

He added: "Her caring and generous manner made her hugely popular with the children, staff and parents. Her death is an enormous loss to the staff who regarded Sue not only as the head of the school, but as a trusted colleague and, most of all, as a good friend."

Mrs Murrell met her husband Alec, deputy head of Shelwich School, near Faversham, when they were both teaching at Bridge. A memorial service to celebrate Mrs Murrell's life is being planned for November 12.