A homeless man who died in a tent in a busy town centre had taken heroin with his girlfriend and fallen asleep before suffering heart failure, an inquest has heard.

Tests revealed 28-year-old Samson Paine had taken a mixture of drugs and alcohol prior to his death in Chatham on June 15.

But assistant coroner Katrina Hepburn concluded he did not die of an overdose.

Instead she determined his death was "drug related" and that an existing heart condition and morbid obesity had contributed to causing his heart failure.

A report from drug and alcohol charity Turning Point was read out during the inquest at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone yesterday.

It stated Mr Paine had a history of drug abuse and had previously been offered help to overcome his addiction and advice on finding accommodation.

He had been admitted to Medway hospital after overdosing with his girlfriend Kayleigh Wilkes at the end of May.

He had subsequently refused referral to a rehabilitation centre - stating he wasn't ready and that he wanted to stay in Medway with his girlfriend.

A statement from Miss Wilkes was read to the court explaining the pair had both taken heroin in the early hours of June 15 in their tent on patch of grass off Dock Road.

Mr Paine had fallen asleep while Miss Wilkes had stayed awake to read a book. Some hours later she noticed he had stopped breathing.

She ran out to the street and flagged down a passing police car but Mr Paine was pronounced dead later that morning.

Mr Paine's death prompted calls for Medway to do more to tackle homelessness. A meeting was held in Strood to discuss the issue and Medway Council has been urged to redouble its efforts.