POLICE have renewed their appeals for help after a man died when his car crashed into a stone wall in Pluckley, near Ashford, at the weekend. A dog travelling in the car was also killed.

Firefighters from Ashford and Charing arrived on the scene shortly after midnight on Saturday and spent six hours fighting flames, which engulfed the car.

The white Austin Maestro hit the wall at the foot of The Old Bakery on the corner of Forge Hill and The Street, heading down towards Smarden.

Nick Alvanos, landlord of The Black Horse pub, ran outside when he heard the collision.

He told the Kentish Express newspaper: "I was just taking the rubbish out and I heard the crash. It was a horrible sight. The car had caught on fire really quickly."

Police officers broke a window in The Old Bakery to check that there was no one inside at risk from the flames.

Identification of the driver is proving difficult because of the intensity of the fire which broke out after the crash.

Police have begun an investigation into the accident. Insp Martin Wanstall, of Kent Police, said: "We still haven't identified the person in the vehicle and until we do that, information is very limited."

Any witnesses to the accident are asked to call Ashford police on 01233 619167.