An inquest into the death of a man found at a property in West Malling has opened.

James Spain's body was discovered in Brickfields on Friday, December 23.

Police and forensics teams were called to the house just before 10am that morning.

Christopher Morris, the assistant coroner for Mid-Kent and Medway, opened the inquest this morning.

The court heard that Mr Spain was 53 years old and unemployed.

His body was identified by his sister, Jean Crosby.

The cause of death was given as suspension following a post-mortem examination on Thursday, December 29.

Mr Morris adjourned the full inquest to Tuesday, March 14, pending further investigation by the coroner's office.