Friends of hit-and-run victim Kyle Coen held a memorial bike ride on Tuesday night to mark the first anniversary of his death.

It was organised by close pal Alex Stock and the 10-strong group met at the teenager’s former family home in St Michaels Close, Sittingbourne, at 9pm before setting off along the A2 towards Faversham.

The route saw them pass Bapchild Cricket Club and the spot nearby where the 14-year-old died after he was hit by a grey Fiat Bravo at about 9.15pm on July 30 last year.

Mum Rea, who still lives in the town, with her three other children Ryan, 12, Kara, six and six-month-old Alex, said the cyclists were overcome as they neared the site where their friend died.

The 37-year-old, who was pregnant at the time of the accident, said: “They went as far as Bapchild and they were all in tears.

“They all came back to Rectory Park afterwards and we released some balloons.

“There were about 20 or 30 of Kyle’s friends from school there and it was very emotional.

“It was a lovely gesture by Alex to arrange the ride and the whole experience was uplifting.

“It was nice that everyone was there to remember Kyle - we all love him so much still.”

The Sittingbourne Community College student was on his way to see his girlfriend Donna Clark who lives in Teynham, when he was hit by the car driven by Robert Lawrence, who then drove off.

Lawrence, of Railway Cottages, Barrow Green, Teynham, contacted police the same night claiming his car had been stolen but when officers arrived and arrested him on suspicion of dangerous driving, the then 24-year-old admitted he had been behind the wheel.

As well as being banned from driving for a year he was sentenced to six-months behind bars when he appeared before Maidstone Crown Court in February.

He was released on licence in April.

An inquest into Kyle’s death held at County Hall, Maidstone, on May 1, returned a verdict of accidental death.

After hearing all the evidence, coroner Patricia Harding said it was clear both Kyle and Lawrence had seen each other and tried to avoid a crash and both moved into the centre of the road.

She said: “The tragedy is they took the same evasive action. [The collision] was inevitable.”