A 17-year-old car driver has been arrested in connection with a road accident on Blue Bell Hill at Chatham which claimed the life of a 40-year-old van driver. The tragedy occurred on Thursday afternoon near the Bridgewood roundabout.

The accident involved three vehicles on the Chatham-bound carriageway. A police spokesman said: "Vehicle one, which was a black Ford Fiesta, joined the main carriageway from the slip-road and collided with a white Mercedes Sprinter van. The van then collided with the third vehicle, a blue Audi."

Police have not released details of the victim, but the spokesman, said: "A formal identification will have to be made before we can release more details. The driver of the van, a 40-year-man, was decapitated and his wife was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Another man is now helping police with inquiries and has been bailed pending further investigation."

Police officers and firefighters spent several hours at the scene examining evidence.