A man has died after a crash outside a pub on Christmas Eve.

Emergency services closed a large stretch of road for five-and-a-half hours after a white Honda motorbike hit a lamppost.

It happened at around 2.25pm on the A26 Tonbridge Road outside The Bull pub in Barming, near Maidstone. The 125cc motorbike was heading towards Wateringbury.

A man in his 40s was taken to King’s College Hospital in London in a serious condition with “severe head injuries”, an ambulance service spokesman said at the time.

Police have confirmed he died as a result of his injuries and officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

His next of kin have been informed.

Around 250 metres of the busy route was cordoned off between the pub and Glebe Lane while police, paramedics and the fire service attended the scene.

A spokesman added: “Anyone with information is urged to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538, quoting reference EW/DGC/119/24. Alternatively email sciu.td@kent.police.uk.

“Local residents with private CCTV and drivers with dashcam, who may have been in the area around the time of the incident, are asked to check for relevant footage, which can be uploaded here.”

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete its online form.