A homemade 'pram' crashed into a kerb before toppling over leaving one competitor dead, an inquest has heard.

Francis O'Sullivan, known to friends and family as Titch, was taking part in the annual Sutton Valence pram race, a popular charity event that has taken place on New Year's Day for more than 30 years.

As the homemade vehicle, which had been decorated to look like a Spitfire, was pushed along the High Street it tipped over, sending Mr O'Sullivan and his two team mates crashing into the ground.

An inquest opening at Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone, today heard Mr O'Sullivan, who was flown to King's College Hospital, London, died of a "catastrophic" head injury.

A statement read out during the brief hearing this morning said the 52-year-old, of Turgis Close, Langley, near Maidstone, was travelling downhill with the other two men when the homemade vehicle hit a kerb.

Mr O'Sullivan fell and hit his head leaving him with a "catastrophic head injury that was not amenable to surgery", the coroner's court heard.

He died at the London hospital.

The cause of death was given at the inquest as a severe traumatic brain injury.

Mr O'Sullivan was a father of three, a son, brother and nephew who served as a tank driver in Iraq with Prince Harry's former regiment, the Blues and Royals.

As news of the delivery driver's death emerged, family and friends paid tribute.

Mum Kathleen O'Sullivan, 77, from Leeds, said: "He would come round a few times a week to see me. I will miss that."

Sister Jeanette Gribben said: "Love you always and forever in our thoughts. May you sleep tight and smile down on us."

Debbie Tharp, landlady of The George Inn, Leeds, where Mr O'Sullivan was a regular, said: "He was a true gentleman, a funny, loyal, and happy man. He was loved by all."

Organisers of the pram race, a fundraising group called the Queens Head Oddfellows Fund, is yet to comment on whether next year's event will go ahead but members offered their condolences to Mr O'Sullivan's family and friends.

A full inquest is due to take place in March.