Floral tributes have been left at the scene of an accident in which a motorcyclist died after crashing into a hairdressers in Gillingham.

The motorcyclist is believed to be a local man in his 50s and flowers to "uncle" have been placed at the scene, along with other bouquets from nearby businesses.

Police are continuing to investigate the accident which happened in Gillingham Road around 5.30am yesterday.

Officers, paramedics and firefighters were called to the scene and the road was closed until midday.

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

Police are examining CCTV footage and the man's next of kin have been informed.

VIDEO: The biker died after he crashed into a hairdressers.

Eyewitness, Richard Greenway, reported seeing a motorbike travelling along nearby Napier Road, before 'going straight through the wall of Kirk Hairdressers' in Gillingham Road.

He said the rider tragically died at the scene.

Mr Greenway, who lives in Napier Road, was alerted to the bike passing his house and went outside to investigate. He said he was joined at the crash scene by ambulance and fire crews and a screen was then placed around the front of the shop.

One man, who did not want to be named, was also one of the first on the scene.

He said: “I live a few doors away and heard a massive bang so I came out. I didn’t hear the sound of any brakes. There was a lot of smoke. There was no sign of a helmet and from the injuries he had, I don’t know how he could have been wearing one at the time of the crash.”

John Moss, who lives in Napier Road, said: “I heard the noise of the bike. It sounded like he came from the next road up.

“He must have hit the front of the shop with such force to have gone through the brick wall. I think he went right through the shop because the ambulance went around to the back. From where I was, there was no sign of the bike at all.

"When I came out, there were already lots other people there."

Several people who witnessed the aftermath of the crash said they were too upset to talk.

The flats above the hairdressers were evacuated until the scene was made safe.

A large police response, including officers in forensic gear, and several patrol cars could be seen near Gillingham Road and the Livingstone Circus roundabout.

Police have collected CCTV footage from nearby premises to try to establish how the crash happened. The front of the shop was boarded up yesterday afternoon.