A Sittingbourne man who died after a row with a pensioner over a disabled parking space had just been given the all-clear from cancer, his family have revealed.

Grandfather Brian Holmes suffered a fatal head injury after he was allegedly punched and knocked to the ground outside his local Asda supermarket.

The 64-year-old - who lived with his wife Christine in Recreation Way, Kemsley, until last year - died in hospital on Sunday.

It was the day after the incident at the Asda branch in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

A 65-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Holmes's family have released a statement paying tribute to the dedicated "family man", who was a carer for his wife.

They said: "The family are devastated by the loss of Brian in such shocking circumstances.

"A wife has lost her husband, best friend and carer all in one go.

"Brian was a family man who adored his grandchildren and family, and had only this week been given the all clear following treatment for cancer.

"Brian and his wife were only just starting to make plans for the future that they only dared to dream of."

Mr Holmes lived in Kemsley until he and his wife moved to Sandy, Bedfordshire, last year.

Their former home in Recreation Way stands in a quiet, modern estate and is one of many neat and tidy-looking detached houses.

There was no answer at their old property today, but a neighbour who did not want to be named said: "I didn't know Mr Holmes, but I knew he wasn't very well and lived with his wife.

"He had family come to visit a lot of the time and he moved out about a year ago.
"It was only when I saw the news that I realised he was our old neighbour. They really kept themselves to themselves."

Another neighbour, a woman who lived opposite, confirmed the Holmes' as a "very quiet couple".

She said: "They moved out about a year ago, but I never met them. They were very private people."

Mr Holmes was shopping in Asda at around 3pm on Saturday when the row happened.

Stunned shoppers and a first aid-trained manager from Asda went to his aid and he was rushed to Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, where he died on Sunday surrounded by his family.

"This is an extremely sad incident which has left a family absolutely devastated and our family liaison officers are doing all that they can to assist and support them at this very difficult time..." - DI Liz Mead

DI Liz Mead, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "This is an extremely sad incident which has left a family absolutely devastated and our family liaison officers are doing all that they can to assist and support them at this very difficult time.

"I would like to hear from anybody who was in the car park at ASDA on Saturday afternoon and may have seen the altercation taking place close to the disabled parking area.

"A number of people have already come forward but it is imperative that we speak with as many people as possible and collect all of the facts into what happened.

"Even the smallest pieces of information could assist us with our inquiries."

The car park has 10 disabled bays outside the main entrance of the single-storey supermarket.

An Asda spokesman said: "We are helping the police get to the bottom of what happened."