Mystery surrounds the sudden death of a former Maidstone man who was working as a barman in Cambodia.

Colin Woodgate, 45, was found dead by police at his home in Phnom Penh in October.

No post mortem examination was carried out before he was repatriated and his family heard at an inquest that one subsequently held in the UK could not ascertain a cause of death.

However, the pathologist could not find signs of heart disease, as claimed by a police officer in Cambodia at the time.

Recording an open verdict at the end of the hearing at Gravesend’s Old Town Hall, north Kent coroner Roger Hatch said his powers to obtain information from the Cambodian authorities were very limited.

“I realise this is unsatisfactory and this is always the difficulty when death occurs abroad.

"Some countries will co-operate and provide information and others will not. This is the difficulty here.”

Mr Hatch added, however, that if any new evidence came to light the case could be looked at again.

Mr Woodgate’s body was discovered by police after he failed to turn up for two work sessions.

After the hearing, Mr Woodgate’s sister said she planned to travel to Cambodia, but did not wish to comment further.

It's believed Mr Woodgate grew up in Maidstone, but might have also lived in Tunbridge Wells.