An undertaker is among the first in the county to move towards more eco-friendly funerals with a hybrid hearse.

Alex Whitmey, who runs independent William Whitmey Funeral Directors in Sittingbourne, has also taken delivery of two hybrid limousines altogether worth £335,000.

The 56-year-old said: "This makes us the first funeral company in the town to move away from big gas-guzzling engines and towards an electric and greener future."

He added: "We are looking to lead the way for a cleaner environment for all by reducing our company's carbon footprint."

The new fleet, with personalised number plates, was delivered on a transporter by specialist vehicle providers Coleman Milne to Whitmey's headquarters in Chalkwell Road on Tuesday.

The fleet features a Norwood Classic hybrid hearse and two matching 20-feet long Rosendale limousines, all based on a Ford Mondeo Titanium chasis.

They are powered by 2-litre petrol engines for long journeys and a whisper-quiet 1.4 kWh electric motor for shorter, low-speed runs.

They replace two Ford Dorchester limousines and a Ford Cardinal hearse.

Penge-born Mr Whitmey founded his company eight years ago after moving to Sittingbourne with his wife Nadine, who is accounts manager.

He entered the profession by chance as a grave digger in Beckenham.

He said: “It was my first job after I left school at 15. I wanted to join the Army but had to wait until I was 18. But I fell in love with the job. I like helping people. You can’t do this job if you don’t have a natural empathy.”

He set up the firm using his first name although he prefers to use his middle name, Alex.

He said: “I was working for Transport for London and commuting every day and took a severance package. I missed the funeral trade and decided to use the money and my savings to branch out on my own.”

Two years ago he invested £100,000 in a second office in London Road, Teynham.

The award-winning company has a full-time staff of five and a team of eight it can call on.