Jean Kent death: Body released for film star's funeral

Jean Kent was famous for her work in Gainsborough melodramas

The funeral of actress Jean Kent who died at her home in Suffolk is to take place on Saturday after the coroner released her body, her spokesman said.

Ms Kent, 92, one of Britain's biggest TV and film stars of the 1940s and 1950s, died in hospital on 30 November after a fall at her home in Westhorpe.

Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean confirmed he would be opening an inquest in the coming days.

Michael Thornton said the funeral would be in her home village.

'Memorable farewell'

The funeral service will be conducted at the 13th Century St Margaret's Church, in Westhorpe on 21 December.

She will then be buried in the churchyard next to her husband, Austrian-born actor and property developer Jusuf Ramart Hurst, who died in 1989.

Jean Kent also appeared in dramas such as The Browning Version

Mr Thornton said: "The entire village of Westhorpe is banding together to give Jean a memorable farewell... and Jean's own voice will be heard singing twice during the service."

Ms Kent's last public appearance was in June 2011 when she was honoured by the British Film Institute on her 90th birthday.

She appeared in 45 films and starred alongside Marilyn Monroe, Michael Redgrave and Laurence Olivier during her career.

Ms Kent, whose real name was Joan Mildred Hurst, was found collapsed in her bedroom at Westhorpe, near Stowmarket, on 28 November by her housekeeper.

Mr Thornton claimed the room was "in considerable disarray" and when Ms Kent was taken to hospital she was found to have fractured ribs and severe and chronic bruising to her body.

She died at West Suffolk Hospital two days later.

Suffolk Police said it was not treating her death as suspicious.