by Nick Evans

The funeral of PC Phillip Pratt will take place at Minster Bethel Congregational Church, on the Isle of Sheppey next Tuesday morning, July 7.

PC Pratt died on June 14 while diverting traffic around a crash scene on the A249 near Sittingbourne.

He was putting out cones on the Sheppey-bound carriageway near the Bobbing Apple when he was hit by a car.

Flowers have been left outside Sheerness police station and scores of tributes left on this website.

Family, friends and colleagues of the 26-year-old will be attending the service, which starts at 11.30am and will be led by church deacon Maggie Mancktelow.

A horse-drawn hearse, escorted by police motorcycles, will carry PC Pratt’s coffin to the church.

Greeting the funeral cortege outside the church will be a full Kent Police guard of honour and those attending will include Chief Constable Michael Fuller and mid Kent area commander Ch Supt Alasdair Hope.

PC Pratt’s parents, Ted and Chris, sister Julia and fiancee Debbie O’Neill have said that people wishing to pay their respects are welcome to line the route of the cortege.

They are hoping people will wear colours, rather than formal black, in celebration of PC Pratt’s life.

As space inside the church is limited only those invited by the family can join the congregation.

However, arrangements are being made to allow officers, work colleagues and members of the public to hear the service in an adjoining hall and car park.

The funeral service at the congregational church will be followed by a private family service at Sheppey cemetery.

First crash victim recovering well

Natasha O’Neill, who was badly injured in the accident PC Pratt was responding to, is making good progress in hospital.

The 21-year-old’s uncle David O’Neill said she continued to make good progress and would be home soon.

He said: “Natasha still has some cuts but has been fitted with a back brace and is able to sit up. The next step is physiotherapy to get her walking again.”

Natasha, from Sheerness, was a back seat passenger in a car involved in the first collision on the A249.

She suffered a fractured spine, fractured vertebra at the base of her neck, three broken ribs, air on her lungs and cuts and bruises.