A PENSIONER killed while crossing the road had no way of avoiding the collision, an inquest heard.

Former council officer Kenneth May, of Castle Hill, Hartley near Gravesend, was hit by a car as he crossed The Brent in Dartford in April.

The 79-year-old died two days later of his injuries at Darent Valley Hospital.

Giving evidence at Dartford County Court, the driver of the Volkswagen Golf, Rohan Pathmorgan of Middlesex, said: "I was driving along and I saw three elderly individuals. One of them looked my way. I thought he was going to wait but he walked across. I slammed my brakes on but there was no way I could have avoided him."

At the time of Kenneth's death his partner Irene Gambrill, who was with him at the accident along with his brother Cyril, said: "He was such an easy-going and honest man. We had only been together for a year. I don’t know how such an accident could have happened."

During the 1960s, Kenneth was a council gardener at Dartford and from 1974 he worked in the district council’s housing department before retiring in the 1980s.

Coroner Roger Hatch, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said: "It is quite clear that as Mr May entered to cross the road and moved in front of the vehicle, he had no opportunity at any time of avoiding the ultimate collision which took place."