A man died after making off from police in a car and driving head on into a lorry, an inquest heard.

Thomas Greening died on his 24th birthday, on Tuesday September 19, after a crash on Gravesend Road near Wrotham.

Opening the inquest at Archbishops' Palace in Maidstone today, coroner Roger Hatch heard Mr Greening, of The Crescent, Borough Green, had been driving a Mercedes when police attempted to stop the vehicle.

The court heard the driver had subsequently attempted to negotiate a bend on the wrong side of the road, before colliding with an oncoming lorry.

The former painter and decorator was taken to Darent Valley Hospital, but could not be saved. The cause of death was said to be a severe head injury.

The death has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for investigation.

The inquest has been adjourned to a later date.