The family of a grandmother found dead in the basement of a Chatham shop were joined by hundreds of other mourners at her funeral.

Harjit Chaggar, 69, a former machinist, was discovered in the Sani Globe Food shop in Luton Road, 12 days after she was reported missing in September.

On Friday, her grieving family, including her daughter Balvinder Reehal, son Kuldish, 46, and granddaughter Hannah, were joined by fellow Sikhs at a special ceremony at the Medway Towns Gurdwara in Rochester.

Floral tributes from her family had been placed in her hearse to remember a “mum, sister, Naneeji and Grandmaji”.

Her coffin was adorned with a bunch of red roses.

After the ceremony, which saw mourners sing hymns and prayers, many were taken by coach to Medway Crematorium for the funeral service.

The mourners then headed back to the temple for refreshments and to reminisce about Mrs Chaggar.

Police launched an investigation after her body was found and three people who worked at the shop have been charged with her murder.

Mrs Chaggar went missing in the Luton Arches area of Chatham on Monday, September 2.

She was last seen in Luton Road, 10 minutes from her home in Hillside Terrace, Chatham.

She was seen leaving the King’s Family Practice in Magpie Hall Road at about 3.30pm, before she made her way to another Asian grocery store in Luton Road.

After leaving the shop, she was captured on CCTV outside Linda Matthews estate agents, but after that police could find no trace of her until her body was found in the shop.

Three men accused of murder made a second appearance at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday.

Abdul Hannan, of Aldon Close, Maidstone, Murshed Miah, of Wheeler Street, Maidstone, and Mohammad Islam, of Windmill Road, Gillingham, were due to enter pleas, but the hearing was adjourned until the New Year.

There will be further hearings on December 23 and January 10. A trial date has been set for March 17. Hannan, 44, Miah, 38, and 28-year-old Islam were all remanded in custody.