A Harrietsham man has denied causing death by careless driving after a popular motorcyclist was killed.

Grant Cordier denied the charge at Maidstone Magistrates' Court this morning following the fatal crash in January.

The court heard the 52-year-old, of Chegworth Road, collided with Osvaldas Rimša after pulling out of Formula One Autocentres on Rocky Hill, Maidstone.

Magistrates were told Cordier had just had the front wheels on his Alfa Romeo changed and crossed the central dividing line as he joined the busy route into town.

He hit the 27-year-old, known as Ozzy, and they both left the carriageway and collided with posts and a road sign.

Mr Rimša, who was on his way back from work and was under a mile from his Florence Road home, was pronounced dead at the scene and Cordier suffered minor injuries.

The architectural technician, who is of previous good character and gave a clean blood test after the crash, spoke only to confirm his details at the brief hearing.

He will stand trial at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Monday, September 5.

Mr Rimša's death prompted an outpouring of grief from the town's tightknit biker community.

More than 100 bikers turned out to remember the Lithuanian at the Reca Community Biker Cafe, St Peter's Street, and walked to the scene of the tragedy, laying flowers along the route.

They also raised £3,600 for his repatriation.