POLICE cordoned off a section of a Kent village for several hours after a man was taken ill at the wheel of his car.

The car crashed into railings outside the Sherwood Oak pub in Walderslade, near Chatham on Friday.

The man, thought to be in his 60s, was taken to hospital by ambulance. He has since died.

No vehicles were able to drive through the village while police investigated the incident, which happened at about 8.20am.

Michael Fox, of the Robin Hood Service Station, witnessed the incident and rushed to help. He recognised the driver as one of his customers.

Mr Fox's father Steve Fox, who manages the service station, said he thought the police reaction was excessive.

"There have been at least five or six police cars here and dozens of officers, and they have cut off Walderslade Village for several hours," he said.

"The police said they had to investigate in case a crime had been committed, but my son saw the accident and there was no other car involved."

A Medway Police spokesman said it had been necessary to close the road while serious collision investigators ensured there had been no foul play.

"When a person has died it is important for their family to know that nothing has been overlooked," he said.

The road was re-opened at around 1.30pm.