A motorcyclist was killed when he crashed into the back of a van after failing to react to a build up of traffic on a motorway, an inquest heard.

Anthony Medhurst died when his green Kawasaki bike went into the back of a slow-moving blue Iveco Daily on a coast-bound stretch of the M2 near Faversham, at about 8.20am on Friday, June 16.

The 29-year-old, of Robson Drive, Hoo, suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene.

A hearing at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone was told the stretch of motorway between junctions 6 for Faversham and 7 for the Brenley Corner roundabout is often congested where the road divides between Faversham-bound traffic and vehicles continuing on to the A299 Thanet Way to Ramsgate.

DC David Holmes, from the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said witnesses spotted the mechanic filtering through traffic in excess of 70mph just before the accident happened.

Damage to his motorcycle indicated he had braked heavily and the bike had gone onto its nearside before sliding and striking the rear of the van.

They also told crash investigators bright sunlight limited visibility but there was no evidence what factor, if any, it played in the crash.

DC Holmes said: “Anthony failed to react to the slow-moving vehicle until it was too late to avoid colliding.”

Assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn said she could not rule on the speeds of either Mr Medhurst’s motorcycle or the Iveco van he crashed into. She concluded the death to be a road traffic accident.

Following Mr Medhurst’s death his family, friends and work colleagues paid tribute to the keen biker and skilled mechanic.

"There's no bad to say about him. He was one in a million. He'd drop anything for anyone" - Anthony Medhurst's brother, Richard

He had been on his way to work at Mr Clutch Autocentre in Canterbury when the accident happened.

His brother Richard, 28, said: “There’s no bad to say about him. He was one in a million. He’d drop anything for anyone.

“He was just one of those happy-go-lucky lads, and he didn’t upset anyone.

“He was just all round generous – he was what you’d call a diamond geezer.”