Post mortem tests on the father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne have found he died of natural causes.

Michael Payne was found dead at his home in Brishing Lane on October 27.

He was aged 45 and had been fought a long battle with alcohol since his eight-year-old daughter's death in 2000.

In light on the tests Mid Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court have said they will not conduct an inquest.

Daughter Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000.

Whiting was given a life sentence a year later and was ordered to serve a 50-year term, later reduced to 40 years by the Appeal Court.

Mr Payne's life spiralled out of control following the murder.

In 2011 he was jailed for 16 months following a drunken glassing of one of his brothers.

He struck Stephen Payne on the back of his head and then slashed his arm with a shard of broken glass for what were described at Maidstone Crown Court as "completely unfathomable" reasons.

The two men had drunk three litres of cider each and a litre of vodka each on the night of the attack.

Jailing him, Judge Jeremy Carey said that any parent would have the deepest sympathy for him.