Brian Taylor was shocked when he received a letter from the Government telling him his wife had died.

But that was nothing compared to the surprise it gave Enid Taylor when she returned from her lace-making group to hear the news.

It came shortly after Mr Taylor, 76, of The Avenue, Aylesford, was released from hospital, where he had an operation to repair an aortic aneurism.

He said: “I could not believe it. I thought it was a joke but then checked the national insurance number and the details and they married up. I stayed relaxed and calm, but given I was recovering from a serious operation I could have panicked.”

Full story in Friday's Kent Messenger