A motorcyclist who died after crashing through the wall of a hairdressers in Gillingham has been named.

Although the man has yet to be formally identified, police believe him to be 55-year-old Michael Iandolo of Railway Street, Gillingham.

An inquest was opened and adjourned at Maidstone Coroner's Court yesterday where the cause of death was given as multiple injuries.

Residents hurried to the scene of the crash on Bank Holiday Monday after hearing the sound of the engine followed by a loud bang around 5.30am.

Richard Greenway, who lives in Napier Road, was one of the first on the scene and reported seeing a motorbike travelling along his road before “going straight through the wall of Kirk Hairdressers” in Gillingham Road.

He said: “I estimate the impact speed was around 80mph. The rider made no attempt to slow down, they were on the throttle at the time of impact.”

Mr Greenway was joined at the crash scene by ambulance and fire crews and a screen was then placed around the front of the shop.

An ambulance spokesman said: “Paramedics were unable to help the male motorcyclist who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”

The flats above the hairdressers were evacuated until the scene was made safe. The front of the shop is still boarded up.

Floral tributes to “uncle” have been placed at the scene, along with other bouquets from nearby businesses.

The roads around Livingstone Circus was closed until midday while police carried out investigations.

Police have collected CCTV footage from nearby premises to try to establish how the crash happened. The man’s next of kin have been informed.