The funeral of a pensioner killed at his home in Biddenden was held today.

Mourners came to pay their respects to 73-year-old Roy Blackman at St Michael's Church in Smarden near Ashford this afternoon.

His coffin was carried to the church on a low-loader from his car mechanics business in Biddenden surrounded by flowers and followed by dozens of friends and family.

Many others had been arriving for the service before the arrival of the cortège with the service followed by a burial afterwards.

Despite driving rain, Mr Blackman's funeral went ahead peacefully in the village where he had lived for several years before moving to Biddenden.

VIDEO: Roy Blackman's funeral was held today.

Police officers patrolled the area around the village to provide a visible presence to residents and family members.

Their presence was not put down to any security fears surrounding the service.

Floral tributes were laid around the coffin on the back of the recovery truck en route to the church and were later moved to line the path outside the church.

Mr Blackman died on March 21 in a suspected robbery during which he suffered multiple severe blunt force injuries to his head, a post mortem found.

A mechanic and bird breeder, Mr Blackman was well-known at Maidstone Market, where friends described him as generous and hard-working.

Police have made several arrests and charged one man in connection with the investigation into Mr Blackman's death.

Four men aged 32, 36, 41 and 49 have been arrested and released on bail while inquiries continue.

A 52-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender is also on police bail.

Mark Love, 37, of Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody.

One of the main suspects into Mr Blackman's death, William Smith, was shot dead by police in a shoot-out at a smallholdings site in Goudhurst on May 1.

An IPCC investigation is being carried out into that incident.