A distraught mourner says she was hit by a stray shotgun pellet from a pigeon shoot during her brother's funeral.

Geraldine White, 80, claims she was struck on the head as her brother Adrian Crowther, a former mayor of Swale and Rochester, was buried.

She said a pigeon shoot taking place next to the natural burial ground at Harty on the Isle of Sheppey, co-owned by Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson, failed to stop during the service for the former councillor.

The St Albans resident, who was there with her husband Frank, 84, who was in a wheelchair, said: "Although the hearse, limousines and other mourners' cars were visible, the shooting didn't stop.

"I was hit in the head by a stray pellet. It is quite outrageous. I couldn't believe it. If I had been looking up, I could have been hit in the eye or the face.

"Even the vicar had to speak over the volleys of rifles while under fire.

"I think it is totally unacceptable for such an activity to carry on while somebody is being buried, let alone for a stray shot to injure a mourner."

She was left with a red mark on her head.

Stephen Platt, of Sheerness undertakers Palliser Platt & Sons, disputed some of Mrs White's claims.

He said: "The shooting stopped when asked and the funeral went ahead with dignity and reverence.

"It is a natural burial ground surrounded by a working farm which makes it different to a council-run cemetery.

"Staff at the burial ground were very helpful and respectful."

Mr Crowther's two sons Andrew, from Walderslade, and James, from Staffordshire, were also present along with the vicar, the Rev Paul Kite.

The burial took place on Thursday after a service at Minster Abbey.

Mr Crowther's cane coffin arrived at the church by horse-drawn hearse, before being taken in a modern vehicle to the burial ground seven miles away.

A spokeswoman for the burial ground said they were unaware of any incident but added that they had no control over bird shoots in the area.

Mr Kite, the priest in charge, said: "The burial was at Harty Natural Burial Ground and took place during a 'shoot'.

"But I have to say, those taking part in the shoot were respectful of Adrian’s burial and stopped shooting before the burial service took place.

"It’s one of the things I love so much about Sheppey. People show respect where respect is due. And let’s be honest, Adrian deserved respect for all the public duties he carried out over the years."

Also present at the church service was former leader of Swale council Andrew Bowles, from Boughton, and ex-finance boss Duncan Dewar-Whalley, from Bobbing.

Mr Crowther, a former school teacher, had been married three times. He lived on The Leas at Minster until, suffering from dementia, he was moved to a Gravesend nursing home where he died on November 23, aged 81.

He had been a lifelong Tory although when he was deselected by his Conservative association he switched to Ukip and was voted back in.

As a matter of principal he often refused to support the Ukip party line.

He was born in Chorley, Lancashire, on January 19, 1941, and represented Minster Cliffs on Swale council from 2000 to 2007 and again from 2008 to 2019 being mayor from 2009 to 2010.

He also served on the county council from 2005 to 2017.

In a tribute at County Hall, Maidstone, Swale council leader Cllr Mike Baldock (Ind) said: “Adrian had a lot of experience, being the Mayor of Swale but also previously of Rochester.

“The election results are a testament to how much local people loved him as he always topped the polls irrespective of what party he stood for.”

“His legacy lives on in Minster on Sheppey where he was a parish councillor. It was Adrian’s idea to create the outdoor community trim trail gym on the Leas.

“Adrian was the nicest guy. With Adrian, what you saw was what you got; he had no ego.”

A eulogy written by friend Pamela Coward was read by the Rev Paul Kite.

Donations in memory of Mr Crowther should go to Minster Abbey.

A wake was held at the Abbey Hotel, Minster.