An elderly man who died in a car accident in Rainham last Friday has been named by police.

Godfrey Laraman, known to his family and friends as Bill, died at the wheel of his car on Deanwood Drive, Parkwood. According to police, his silver Hyundai Getz struck the kerb and then hit a lamppost and overturned, landing on its roof.

He was given 20 minutes of life support by medics but pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination has revealed the 80-year-old died from natural causes. It is thought he suffered a heart attack.

Bill, a father and grandfather was a long-serving member of the Gillingham Operatic and Dramatics Society (GODS) and had been president of the group for the last 10 years. His wife Olga, who died earlier this year, was also a steadfast member of the group.

John Endicott, a former GODS chairman, said: "Bill was a wonderful man. He was always there when you needed him. He will be sorely missed."