by Danny Boyle

A father-of-three from Gravesham was celebrating his 23rd wedding anniversary when he was killed in a horrific road crash that left two other people dead.

Darren Francomb, 48, and wife Hilary had been out for lunch with friends before the pick-up truck they were in collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction.

Described as a "popular character who lived life to the full", the director of a family-run joinery company leaves behind sons Ben, Lewis and Elliott.

Mr and Mrs Francomb were on the way back to their home in Timberbank, Vigo, with another couple - believed to be from Meopham - when celebration turned to tragedy.

A third couple they had been out with arrived before them and became anxious when they did not turn up after 15 minutes.

They frantically retraced their route - and were among the first on the scene of the smash, on Wrotham Hill on the A20, as the emergency services arrived.

Mr Francomb died at the scene, while his wife, another woman and the male driver of the Toyota Hi-Lux they were in were taken to Maidstone Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening, injuries.

In a statement, Mr Francomb's family said: "Darren was a hard-working, popular character who proudly cherished his family and lived life to the full. He will be sadly missed."

The driver of the Mercedes they collided with, 65-year-old James Mealings, from Lee, south east London, and his passenger Joan Hutchins, 78, from Barnehurst, in Bexley, also died after the collision.

Inquests into the three deaths have been opened and adjourned, while floral tributes mark the spot where the crash happened, at about 4pm on Sunday, December 20.

Witnesses, or anyone who saw the blue Toyota Hi-Lux or black Mercedes C200, are asked to phone Kent Police's serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798 538.