THE funeral of Kent postmasters Nishan and Perminder Singh, killed in a road crash Cambridge on May 21, will take place at Barham Crematorium, near Canterbury, on Thursday.

Their daughters, Simran, five, and Kiran, 15 months, who survived the crash, will not attend the service which will start at 1pm.

Both girls suffered serious injuries when the family's Volvo left the A14 and hit a stationary lorry parked in a lay-by.

The family lived at Rough Common, near Canterbury. Blean School pupil Simran, the most severely injured of the girls, has made good progress over the past week and is out of intensive care at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

She has been told of her parents' death and is being comforted by relatives who have been taking it in turns to keep vigil at the girls' bedsides.

Family members from London have rallied around Mr Singh's devastated mother Rose, and reopened the village post office.

The girls' aunt Harprit Sangheri said: "They are much better this week and are conscious. They are making good, steady progress. They will be kept in hospital for a while but we are hoping for a transfer to Canterbury soon."

Following the service at Barham, another service will be held at the Sikh temple in Gravesend.