A RETIRED middle-aged couple from Kent have died in a road crash while on holiday in South Africa.

Stephen and Marion Moon, from Workhouse Lane, East Farleigh, near Maidstone, were among a party of 13 holiday-makers travelling in a Mercedes minibus in the Royal Natal National Park when the accident happened.

Witnesses say a young local man who suffered from mental health problems stepped in front of their vehicle as it was travelling at about 70mph, apparently in a deliberate attempt to commit suicide.

The driver swerved to avoid him, and the minibus, which was towing a trailer loaded with luggage, jack-knifed, and over-turned.

Mr Moon, 56, a retired software engineer, and his wife Marion, 60, a retired marketing consultant, were among the eight passengers killed. The local man also died.

Two other Britons and a Canadian holiday-maker on the coach survived, as did the tour guide and mini-bus driver.

The Moons have been described by neighbours in East Farleigh as a quiet couple. They met at university and had no children. Each Christmas they liked to take an exotic holiday to either Africa or South America.

They had only recently completed extensive improvements to their home where they had lived for about 10 years. Mrs Moon was a committee member helping to look after the local almshouses.

Neighbour Bob Beadle said: "They were always very friendly when you did bump into them, but for the most part they kept very much to themselves."

The crash that claimed their lives occurred between Harrismith and Bergville on New Year's Eve.

The other victims have been identified as 60-year-old Roger Pearce, and Linda Pearce, 49, from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire; Neil Pike, 35, and Christine Rowe, 30, a couple from the Preston area of Lancashire; Dr Anthony Egan from Surbiton, Surrey, and Thomas Harris from Rhondda, South Wales.