An inquest has heard a keen sportsman died in a tragic cycling accident.

Steve Wand was cycling in Westerham when he was thrown from his bike while trying to avoid a van on Friday, March 25.

Five ambulances and the air ambulance were called to Hosey Hill shortly after midday, but the father-of-two was pronounced dead at the scene.

The hearing, held at Gravesend Coroner's Court this morning, heard he had severe head injuries, including a fractured skull.

Jason Russon, who was cycling with him at the time, was at the front of the group as they started going down hill.

He told the court a Ford Transit van pulled out about 150ft ahead of them. Steve came hurtling towards it and the others heard him shout.

Steve didn't hit the van but fell off before the impact. The court heard he was wearing a helmet at the time of his death.

Mr Russon met Mr Wand through cycling and they had known each other for 18 months.

Detective Constable Mark Robinson, from the SCIU, was the investigating officer. He said the transit van was being driven carefully.

The cyclists were travelling north, the van pulled out of a road on the right, ahead of them, turned right and was travelling in the same direction as them.

There was no evidence that there was anything wrong with the van, bike or road surface.

The chain had become detached from the front and back wheels but that was likely to have happened as a result of the accident, DC Robinson added

He is thought to have been travelling at around 19mph.

Following his death, friends and relatives paid tribute to the 58-year-old, who lived in Bexleyheath.

His wife, Janice, who he met in 1985 and married in 1987, said: "Steve was always looking for adventure and excitement, and always had a whole range of passions and everything he ever did was taken to the extreme."

Speaking after this morning's inquest, which was held at Gravesend Coroner's Court, she added: "It was what we were expecting. There is no other conclusion really. It's unbelievable. It's a complete tragedy."

Mr Wand was born in Beckenham and was a keen sportsman. He leaves his wife and two children.

Assistant coroner Geoffrey Smith recorded accidental death.