A dog walker died after a vehicle "left the road and collided with him" less than a mile away from his home, an inquest heard.

Retail worker Anthony Gower, 52, of Tudeley Lane, was killed in a suspected hit and run on the A2014 Pembury Road in Tonbridge on August 6.

An inquest into Mr Gower's death was opened today at County Hall, Maidstone .

Assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon said: "It appears from information that Mr Gower was walking his dog when a vehicle left the road and collided with him."

His cause of death was given as multiple injuries.

Mr Gower was found about 200 metres south of the Vauxhall Inn pub just before 9.15pm with injuries consistent with being hurt in a collision, but no vehicle had stopped at the scene after the incident.

His mother identified him after bank cards were found, the inquest heard.

The next day a damaged small hatchback car was found unattended in the sports ground car park at the end of Darenth Avenue in the town.

A local man in his 30s was arrested on the same day on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was later bailed to return to the police station on September 4.

The inquest was adjourned until January 21.

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