Floral tributes have been tied to railings after a man died yesterday.

The pedestrian, thought to be in his 70s and from Gravesend, was struck by a white Hyundai van in Perry Street at about 7.55am.

Witnesses said the man fell while crossing the road into the path of the reversing vehicle.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

One card reads: "I am so sorry. There was nothing we could do. I am so sorry for your loss. There are no words."

The driver of the van was taken to Darent Valley Hospital with injuries thought to be minor. Next of kin have been informed.

Perry Street was closed in both directions until about 1pm while officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit carried out an investigation.

Two ambulances and two ambulance cars were sent to the scene.

A female witness, who asked not to be named, said: "The guy crossed the road behind the van and tripped. He seemed to have knocked himself out."

She said the van reversed before the driver realised something was wrong.

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The witness added: "There were loads of people crowding around.

"I just want everyone to know it was not the driver's fault. There was no way he could have seen him. It was a tragic, tragic accident.

"It was something I never want to see again. It was horrible. He was in the middle of two vans - there was no way they would have seen him.

"The driver was an absolute mess. They took him to hospital soon after. It wasn't nice."

One person, who works nearby but did not want to be named, said: "I believe he fell into the gutter of the road and then a car backed out injuring him."

Video: Police cordon off Perry Street in Northfleet after the fatality

Sue Emberson's son Matthew works at Tesco Express in Perry Street and was one of the first at the scene.

She said: "All he heard was a woman who witnessed it screaming and then he and his colleague ran out to see what had happened.

"It's all blocked off. The police said it's going to be like that until about lunchtime. A lot of the shops are closed and so is the bank."

The closure was from outside Tesco Express to the corner of All Saints' Road. All businesses between the cordon were earlier shut.

Witnesses or anyone who saw the pedestrian or vehicle before are urged to phone police on 01622 798538.