A heartbroken family have filed a complaint against Kent Police for failing to tell them their sister and daughter had died at her home.

Canadian Susan Williamson, 70, had been living in Tunbridge Wells when she was found dead following a short illness.

The designer was found at her home in Valley Road on March 17 and her family, who live in Canada, only found out about her death three days later after ringing a neighbour when they became concerned they hadn't heard from her when she returned from hospital.

Kent Police has said after discovering Miss Williamson's next of kin was her brother Jim who lives in Toronto, they contacted Interpol for the local police force to visit him and tell him about the tragic death in person.

Detective Superintendent Mat Scott, from Kent Police’s professional standards department, said: "On March 17, officers were called by South East Coast Ambulance Service to a property in Valley Road, Tunbridge Wells, where Susan Williamson, a woman in her 70s, had been pronounced deceased.

"Her death was not deemed suspicious and a report was completed for the coroner.

"Inquiries at the scene identified that the deceased’s next of kin was her brother who resided at an address in Toronto, Canada.

'She touched so many people's lives...'

"On the same day, a request was made to Interpol for this person to receive a visit from his local police force to advise him in person of the death of his sister.

"On March 23, the coroner’s office updated Kent Police that the brother had been in contact with them regarding his sister’s death.

"A formal complaint has been received by Kent Police regarding the deceased’s property and notification of next of kin. This is being investigated by the Professional Standards Department who will liaise with the complainant."

It is Kent Police protocol to inform family or loved ones of the deceased in person due to the sensitivity of the subject.

Susan was born in Prague and lived in Santiago, Berlin, Canberra and Ottawa before settling in Kent.

Her family said she touched so many lives and "exuded energy, passion, creativity and intellect" as well as having a "sly humour and general noisiness in the aid of a good cause".

She trained as a designer in Canada and made a career in design and architecture in London, Durham, Leeds and Tunbridge Wells.