Around 15 ice cream vans drove through the streets this morning in a fitting tribute to the "best man you will ever meet."

The convoy was in memory of former Northfleet landlord and ice cream man Paul Mannerings who died on June 21.

The 60-year-old passed away in hospital where he had been admitted in March to undergo a series of operations.

His sister Ann Taylor said: "It is really, really hard. We did not expect it, it was a shock and it still is. All the family – and there is a lot of us – we all loved him and miss him like hell.

"Paul was always positive and happy-go-lucky right 'til the end. He was always joking, always laughing.

"Everyone who met him said he was a great bloke and they had a lot of respect for him. He knew a lot of people and no one had a bad word for him.

"He would help anyone and he wore his heart on his sleeve. All the ice cream men had great respect for him. He is going to be missed by so many people, especially his close family."

Paul grew up in The Crescent in Northfleet with his eight siblings and although he moved around a lot he never strayed too far away from his roots.

Keeping to the "family tradition" as Ann put it, Paul worked as an ice cream man for around 30 years, taking after his dad who started up his own business in the 60s.

His van was called Jack the Ripple and after he hung up his scoop Paul, and his brother Andrew, used to build and sell ice cream vans.

Ann joked he used to "eat a whole block of ice cream" but his favourite was a toffee crumble.

The dad-of-five was also the landlord of the Fox and Hounds in Meopham and then The Rose in Northfleet but he gave it up around five years ago due to his health.

Paul was married to Sandra for seven years and he also had five grandchildren.

A convoy of ice cream vans were seen driving along Perry Street and Dover Road this morning as part of the cortege heading to Our Lady of Assumption Church for his funeral.

There were also floral tributes in the shape of a Mr Whippy ice cream van and a pint of beer. The vans and cars also had messages to Paul on them with one reading "you are simply the best, love you forever."

One online tribute read: "Uncle, dad, granddad, husband, brother – best man you will ever meet."

An inquest is being held into Paul's death on September 22 at County Hall, Maidstone.