If you're a Ghostbusters' fan, you'll be wanting a fitting send-off. So, who you gonna call?

A Medway undertakers has just added an exact replica of the iconic Cadillac from the original 1984 movie to its fleet of hearses.

The acquisition made by T Allen Funeral Directors has brought full circle a tragedy which struck a Twydall family 20 years ago.

In March 2002, Ross Hutchinson's brother, Ryde died in a road crash at the age of 18.

The petrol head siblings had recently brought over the car from America after spotting it on the internet and then selling their other cars to stump up the £20,000 for it.

The pair were in the process of renovating their prized possession on the driveway of the family home when Ryde was killed.

Determined his funeral should reflect his mischievous sense of humour, Ross and his late father John worked round the clock to get it roadworthy enough to carry his coffin.

Funeral director Mark Allen recalls how the family went into their funeral parlour and showed a picture of the car saying they wanted that to be the hearse.

Mark, said: "My late father Terry conducted the funeral and while it was the strangest request he had had, he said 'no problem'."

It took Ryde' s coffin to Holy Trinity Church in Twydall and then on to the crematorium at Blue Bell Hill accompanied by hundreds of relatives, friends and classmates.

Mark said: "I remember seeing it through the fog with lights flashing, it was eerie, but at the same time magical."

The 41-year-old classic car enthusiast kept in contact with the Hutchinson family after the funeral.

A few months ago he bumped into Ross's mum Barbara at a car fair and she told him the Ghostbuster was finally finished and on the road.

He said: "I asked if Ross would consider using it as a working hearse and she said of course he would.

"Now, I'm itching to get my hands on it."

As the years slipped by and Ross became a dad to Sofia, 10, and Felix, eight, he decided to revive his ambition to get the "caddy" up-and-running.

After work was then hampered by lockdown, he relied on the goodwill of local companies recovering from the effects of the pandemic to support him,

He was also spurred on by Felix who shares his love of vintage cars and is a big fan of the smash hit sci-fi film.

Ross, 43, a special needs teacher, said: "I felt I owed it my brother and dad to get the job done."

Mark, who took over the family business with sister Helen when their father died, said: "It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think it will appeal to people with a sense of humour.

"It's a bit of fun and it's got history."

"We believe that funerals should be about personal choice and funeral directors have a small window to make sure everything goes right.

"You can have two or three years to plan a wedding, but with funerals it can be just weeks."

The "Caddy" was built as an ambulance/hearse car, known as the The Ecto 1, but Ross's model still needed some adjustments to make it a working vehicle.

Through contacts, he had a vintage-style stretcher made by specialists Audens based in the Midlands and Ross is fitting it before offering its services to Terry Allen's.

The company, which has branches in Rochester, Rainham, Twydall and Strood, has already branches out with unconventional hearses.

It incorporated a Land Rover after Prince Philip's coffin was carried to St George's Chapel, Windsor in a similar vehicle.

Helen, 40, said: "We like to be unique. I think the Ghostbuster will prove popular. It's been sat on a driveway for so many years, so it's nice to see it on the road."

Ross plans to launch the hire of the vehicle to the funeral company at a party to thank those who have helped him bring his dream to fruition on Saturday – which would have been Ryde's 39th birthday.