A Pembury man has admitted killing a pedestrian in Chapman Way, Tunbridge Wells.

David Smith pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, but will still face a trial later this year.

The Crown Prosecution Service is to go ahead with the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Stephen Hilder died after being struck by Smith's Land Rover Freelander on Friday, January 4.

Smith, 55, of Henwoods Mount, denied the death by dangerous driving charge when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court and trial date was set for November.

Judge Julian Smith ruled the trial should go ahead after watching footage of the incident when Mr Hilder was hit while on his way to work.

The 70-year-old, who was a father-of-two, was a former marathon runner and was on his way to his delivery driver job he was struck.

Tragically he died at the scene in a car park in Chapman Way, off North Farm Road, High Brooms.

Shortly after his death, his daugher-in-law, Kelly Hilder paid tribute to him and said his death was ironic as he was walking to stay healthy.

On that day he had driven from his Holford Street home and walked the last part of the journey, to his workplace, Motorparks in Tunbridge Wells, to stay active.

"He loved his job, he didn't want to retire," Kelly said.

"He didn't want to slow down, particularly after turning 70 on Christmas Day. In some news reports he was described as elderly but he wasn't at all."

Mr Hilder moved to Tonbridge around 20 years ago after growing up in Maidstone.

His family recalled someone who lived life to the fullest. He was a keen runner in the 1980s and took on numerous marathons. His personal best came in the 1980s when he ran the Maidstone Marathon in two hours, 47 minutes placing him 18th out of 1,000 participants.

He also spent time trying to help others and raised money for charity doing runs with other milkmen while working for Express Dairies (now Dairy Crest) in Park Wood.

Mrs Hilder, 39, added "He was happy, really really happy. I have known him since I was 15 and I have never once seen him lose his temper or get cross.

"He did the London marathon three times and I think he would have loved to have kept on running. I didn't realise quite how many he had done until I collected all his medals together."

Mr Hilder left behind two sons, Martin, 46 and Daniel, 42 and he also had two grandchildren - Jay and Georgia.

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