AN INQUEST is to be opened later this week into the death of an 18-month-old toddler involved in an accident with an ice-cream van in Ashford.

The child, known only as Tayah, died in the William Harvey Hospital after the incident which happened at about 5.30pm on Friday, in Limes Avenue, South Ashford, where she lived. Her parents were at her bedside.

Police cordoned off the area so that witnesses could be interviewed and the Kent road accident investigation unit was called in. Flowers and teddy bears were left at the scene of the tragedy.

A Weald police spokesman said this week that investigations into what happened were continuing.