A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a disturbance in which one person died and another was seriously injured.

Police and ambulance crews were called to The Cricketers Inn, in Wrotham Road, Meopham, shortly before 9.15pm on Saturday, November 5 and found two men with stab wounds.

Craig Allen, 35, from Marden, died at the scene, while a 50-year-old man from Meopham was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.

A third man, 29-year-old Miguel Batista, of no fixed address, is alleged to have attacked the 50-year-old and appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with attempted murder.

No plea was entered and Batista was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to Woolwich Crown Court on December 7.

The injured 50-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of murder but police say officers have spoken to him and he has been released pending the outcome of further investigation.

Villagers have spoken of their shock as they come to terms with what happened.

Doug Aldous, who lives close to Meopham Green, said: “We were disturbed by the police who wanted to review our CCTV.

“I woke up to find all the green was cordoned off and there was a massive police presence and a helicopter above. I came to the front and saw all the blue flashing lights everywhere.

“It is a one off. You do not expect a murder 100 yards from where you live. I have grown up around here and lived here for four years, you do not get this type of stuff here.

“It is quiet, it is peaceful, it is nice place to live. You do not get much bother.”