AN appeal to local people to join brother and sister Susan and Kevin Osbourne at their mother's funeral has inspired an astonishing response, illustrating just how supportive the community can be.

Susan and Kevin have lived in Corsham for several years. Sadly their mother Hazel Osbourne died on December 31, aged 86, and her children were very concerned that they had no friends to attend the funeral.

Some of their support team and other professionals were going to attend, but they were worried the church would otherwise be empty.

So with their blessing, the funeral directors decided to let the local community know about the funeral and to invite people to attend.

On Facebook they posted a message: "We are appealing for your support. Can you spare 30 minutes on Tuesday January 29 to join Susan and Kevin at St Bartholomew’s Church, Corsham? If you can, please can you be in church for 10.50am at the latest, so that when they arrive into church, they will see that there are local people there for them and their mother.

"I know this is a big ask, but a little time out of your day will mean the world to them on what will obviously be a very difficult day for them."

Aaron Bewley said Susan and Kevin were very positive about the idea of spreading the invitation online - and he had been overwhelmed by the response to it.

"Lots of people have been talking about how they know them, and I think so many will be there," Mr Bewley said.

"I was stopped three times on my way to school this morning. It reminds you what a positive thing the community can be."

He said that at the last count, the social media post had been viewed 33,000 times.