An inquest into the death of a Medway man who died after his bike collided with a parked lorry was opened and adjourned yesterday (Thursday).

Graham Hughes, 56, who was from Strood, died on the A228 Snodland bypass, as he was cycling home from work.

The accident happened on Saturday, September 15, as Mr Hughes was riding home from Wincanton road haulage company in Snodland, where he had worked for 23 years.

Mr Hughes, formally of Allington Drive, was married to Julie and they would have celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary on Monday, October 1 – instead, that will be the day of his funeral at Medway Crematorium, in Blue Bell Hill, Chatham.

They have two children, Gary and Zoe, and two grandsons, Harry, seven, and three-year-old George.

A statement from the family described him as "a great friend to many".

Colleague and friend of 11 years Clive Newrick said he and Mr Hughes finished their shift at the same time and headed back to Medway.

Mr Newrick, 46, from Rainham, looked back in his car mirror and spotted Mr Hughes lying on the ground. He said: "It has left a big hole at work and we are all trying to piece together exactly what happened.

"I have been out with Graham and he was an experienced steady cyclist."

He added that Mr Hughes would be remembered for his sense of humour and love of life.

"He was a very likeable bloke who liked a joke and got on with his job.

"He loved his holidays, especially America, he was due to go to the States in the next week or so."

His family also said he was an experienced cyclist, who had ridden many charity bike rides.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Archbishops Palace, in Maidstone, by assistant deputy coroner, Roger Sykes, yesterday.

The precise cause of his death has yet to be determined and a full inquest into his death will be held at a later stage.