A van driver has admitted being over the drink-drive limit when he was involved in a crash in Smeeth.

Andrew Mitchell, 54, from Eltham in south-east London, also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to James Setterfield by driving dangerously on March 26 last year.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the collision happened at 6.10am on the A20 Hythe Road as the defendant was returning from London in a white Ford Transit van.

The prosecution told the judge that an expert, who investigated the circumstances of the crash, believed Mitchell had between 15-20 seconds to see Mr Setterfield’s red Ford Fiesta before the crash.

Both men were seriously injured and needed hospital treatment.

Judge James O’Mahony adjourned sentence until April 21 and Mitchell was remanded on bail.

He said: “There were very serious injuries caused and careful thought is needed before sentence is passed.”

The two men were taken to hospital with serious injuries after the collision.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and firefighters had to cut the roof off Mr Setterfield’s car to free him from the wreckage.

He was flown to King’s College Hospital in London with injuries to his head, chest, abdomen, leg and arm.

The road was closed in both directions while the emergency services cleared the scene.