A nurse killed in a car crash along an East Peckham road was on her way to a wake, an inquest has heard.

Mildred Matete was pronounced dead at the scene in Seven Mile Lane after a three-vehicle crash along the road at around 8.20pm on December 13.

An inquest into the 43-year-old's death opened at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone.

Assistant coroner for Kent, Alan Blunsdon heard Mrs Matete, who was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, was one of three women travelling in a black Toyota Cruiser along Martins Lane, East Peckham.

Opening the inquest, court usher Trevor Smith told his Honour the women were on their way to a wake in Tunbridge Wells.

The inquest heard the Toyota was travelling along Martins Lane in East Peckham, when it reached the junction with Seven Mile Lane.

Pulling out of the junction, the Toyota collided with a Renault Traffic van.

The Toyota was then hit a second time by a passing Nissan Micra, pushing the vehicle on to its roof.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, including an air ambulance and a hazardous area response team.

Mrs Matete, from Beaver Road in Ashford, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.50pm.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Thursday, December 21 gave the cause of death as "multiple injuries".

Three other people were injured in the crash, which is still being investigated by Kent Police.

After the crash, it was reported two other women in the Toyota were taken to hospital with serious injuries, as was the driver of the Nissan Micra.

The road was closed until 4am the following morning for investigation works.

Following the opening, the coroner has adjourned the inquest into Mrs Matete's death until April 9, 2018.

It is scheduled to take place in the Archbishop's Palace.

The incident is being investigated by the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and any witnesses who may have information are asked to call SCIU on 01622 798 538 quoting the reference number KH/DJ/285/17.