It's an honorary custom usually reserved for dignitaries such as MPs, royalty and heroic servicemen and women.

But now the ordinary folk of one Tonbridge and Malling parish can be treated to similar VIP respect when their time comes.

In a move that is thought to be unique to the borough, the death of a Burham resident will be marked by the lowering of the Union Jack on the day of the funeral.

The half-mast gesture is on behalf of Burham Parish Council in an attempt to make the most of its new flagpole which stands in the War Memorial Gardens and was installed to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Armed Forces Day.

Roger Dalton, parish council chairman, said: "The Union flag flies all the time in Burham, but on the day of a funeral and at the request of a family member, we will lower it.

"Requests will have to be made in writing to the parish clerk in advance of the funeral.

"People won’t be able to pick up the phone on the day itself and ask for it to be lowered."

The quaint ceremony has already been carried out to salute the passing of one villager, a Church Street resident who died earlier this year.

But the same honour is available to any of Burham’s 1,300 population, just as long as notice given in the old-fashioned way – in writing.

Mr Dalton added: "It doesn’t matter where the funeral is taking place, but we’d like to think the deceased will be a resident of Burham."

Please put requests in writing to: Ms Pam Saunders, 5 Springfield Avenue, Maidstone, ME14 2QA. People will not be able to pick up the phone on the day itself and ask for it to be lowered.