A double funeral has been held for a mother and her son who died within days of each other.

Grahame Brownless had moved back to Maidstone from London to care for his mother in the latter years of her life.

Eventually, however, Joan Brownless required more help than he could give and she moved into Loose Valley Nursing Home.

Mr Brownless, who had himself been ill with heart problems for many years, was found dead at his mother’s home in Broadoak Avenue on March 23. He had suffered a heart attack. He was 65.

His mother died in her care home five days afterwards. She was 93.

Mrs Brownless had been a member of the Townswomen’s Guild and the Trefoil Guild. She had been a volunteer with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Meals on Wheels and had been a prison visitor at Maidstone.

Grahame Brownless had been a volunteer for many years at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, near his home in London.

Both mother and son had been members of the Valley Conservation Society, in Maidstone’s Loose Valley.

Society chairman Bryn Cornwell said: "It is very sad. Both Joan and Grahame were keen supporters of the society. Grahame would often respond to controversial planning issues on our behalf and also completed a ragstone walling course with us conducted by a master-stone-mason and helped to restore historic walls in the valley.

"They will both be greatly missed."