A jury has ruled that a Canterbury man found drowned in a ditch in Ashford last year died as a result of an accident.

Robert Heskins, 60, was found face down in the stream in Highfield Lane, near the William Harvey Hospital, in August last year.

He had been admitted to hospital earlier in the month after being found outside his home in Military Road, Canterbury, with a head injury.

Mr Heskins was found in the stream five days after being discharged from hospital.

The inquest was held before a jury in Dover and presided over by coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks.

It heard that in the days before his death, Mr Heskins was found wandering along the M20 in a confused state.

His family believe he was not in any fit mental state to be allowed out.