The family of a popular long-serving shopping centre worker are fundraising to create a community garden in her memory, hopefully in the place she worked for the past decade.

Maureen Allen, a well-known figure in Chatham's Pentagon, died suddenly at the age of 55.

A crowdfunding page has been set up to create an open space as a tribute to Maureen, a keen gardener, mum of four and grandmother of eight.

And they are hoping the garden will be on the roof top of the town centre building and be of educational use to Medway schoolchildren.

Her family posted: "The garden will bring new life to an area that is currently unused, and the idea is to have bee hives and encourage wildlife to the area.

"Mum loved her garden, and took great pride in her plants and we want to give something back to the Medway community where we know that mum made a huge impact.

"We hope that by raising this money we will be able to leave something in mum's memory to show how much we love her and her legacy will not be forgotten."

Maureen, also known as Polly, passed away at her home in Holland Road, Maidstone, from an undiagnosed brain aneurysm on Monday, May 10.

Her daughter, Rebekah Allen, 25, a mother-of -three, said: "We sat around as a family and it seemed only right that she would like something like this. She was very much part of the Pentagon. Everyone knew her and liked her."

Rebekah, who lives in Coxheath and worked at a shop in the Pentagon, added: "She would have wanted to give back to the community."

Charlene Malone, manager of the centre where Maureen worked for 10 years, posted on Facebook: "Maureen was a much-loved member of the team and extremely adept at diffusing and dealing with any situation that came her way.

"She was the 'big guns' we called on to deal with the toughest of problems.

"Maureen consistently and without hesitation would go above and beyond to help customers and colleagues.

"She was an exemplar of how the job is done. So much so, she was recently awarded an award for outstanding customer service.

"All or thoughts are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

If you wish to donate, click on this link here.

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