An elderly man described as "lovely" and "very well known" has died after collapsing outside a convenience store in Hildenborough last night.

The man, named locally as Alan Manktelow, aged in his 70s, collapsed outside the One Stop Shop in Tonbridge road just before 5pm after suffering a cardiac arrest.

He stopped breathing and was immediately helped by a shopper and store colleague who collaboratively carried out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until ambulance crews arrived.

When paramedics arrived they continued CPR and managed to resuscitate him before transporting him to Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury.

An ambulance spokesperson said: "We were called to the One Stop Shop to reports of a man collapsing.

"When we arrived he had stopped breathing, and we thanked those members of the public on scene who were carrying out CPR trying to resuscitate him.

"The man had suffered a cardiac arrest, we managed to resuscitate him. When he was transferred to hospital he was in a very serious condition."

"He would come in every couple of days to sit with me and have a chat, he was just a lovely man. It is very sad" - Shop manager, Mani

Mr Manktelow was in a very serious condition when he was transferred to hospital and sadly died later in the evening.

Shop manager Subramaniam Mani, said: "Alan was a lovely man. He was a regular at the shop and I had been chatting to him throughout the day.

"When he collapsed outside we all went out and one of my colleagues and a gentleman were trying to support him while the ambulance was on its way, they arrived about 10 minutes later.

"They carried out CPR and did their best to save him. I've been working here for nearly five years and Alan has been my regular since I've been here.

"He would come in every couple of days to sit with me and have a chat, he was just a lovely man. It is very sad and shocking."

Another member of staff at the shop said Mr Manktelow was very well known in the area, and lots of customers have been saddened by his passing. She added: "I used to drink in the same pub as him, we'd have a chat every now and then.

"A lot of people coming in to the store have been very upset, he will be missed."