FLOWERS have been placed by family and friends at the site of the former Old Locomotive pub in Canterbury where taxi driver Derek Drury was killed.

The 40-year-old was found crushed to death under rubble two days after the building collapsed following a massive explosion.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned by coroner Rebecca Cobb who recorded that he had been formally identified by his wife, Jacqueline, of Station Road, Whitstable.

The next hearing is unlikely to go ahead on the set date of October 17 because of a criminal investigation into the fire. Pub owner Keith Willoughby, of Wincheap, who was injured in the blast, was arrested and questioned in connection with suspected arson and is now on police bail pending further inquiries.

The site in Station Road West has been cleared and the city council says it is keen to see the land, which is in a conservation area, redeveloped.

A spokesman said: "We would be looking at residential use or possibly another pub. Previous plans for residential development at the pub were found to be unacceptable because the design was out of keeping with its surroundings."