A former teacher has been found dead in his home just days before he was due to stand trial for historic sex offences.

David Harding, of Hillcrest Road, Kingsdown, was expected to stand trial at Guildford Crown Court on Monday in connection with 24 offences.

But at 1pm last Wednesday, the 81-year-old who had recently been diagnosed with leukaemia, was found dead at his home.

The cause of death is not known.

The charges against him included nine counts of indecent assault against boys under the age of 14 and 15 counts of inciting gross indecency against boys under the age of 14.

The incidents are alleged to have happened between 1968 and 1981 at a school in Surrey. He was first charged in October 2016.

Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious and they are preparing a report for the coroner.

The coroner’s office confirmed a post mortem report had been sent to the QEQM Hospital in Margate and no date has been set for his inquest.

Mr Harding produced Kent Magazine, a monthly magazine for blind people.

It was put together by a team of 20 readers who would meet at a studio in his home once every six months.

The magazine was distributed to around 3,000 blind listeners around the county and even sent to the Kent Association for the Blind in Maidstone.

It was also used by hospital radio stations at Ashford and Canterbury.

When KentOnline's sister paper the Mercury interviewed Mr Harding in 2011, he was involved with St Margaret’s Players productions and organised the choir at Kingsdown and Ringwould Primary School.

He was also musical director of the Deal Savoyards, a member of the Goodwin Potholing Club, treasurer of the Kingsdown Conservation Group and a church organist.