THE owner of a Canterbury pub reduced to rubble after an explosion in which a man died has been charged with manslaughter.

Keith Willoughby, 52, from Canterbury, will appear before magistrates in the city on Thursday accused of killing Derek Drury, 40, from Whitstable, in a blast at the Old Railway Locomotive.

The pub, in Station Road West, collapsed on August 18 following a massive explosion. Firefighters found Mr Drury’s body in the rubble two days later.

Mr Willoughby has been released on police bail while investigations continue.