Former Maidstone and Tonbridge favourite Peter Overton has died, aged 43.

Overton died in a hospice in the early hours of Wednesday morning, having been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in May last year.

Fans and former team-mates rallied round Overton after his terminal diagnosis, holding a benefit match at the Gallagher Stadium.

He’d been on holiday in Portugal when he fell ill and returned home.

It came as a huge shock to the ex-midfielder's family and friends, including his old Maidstone boss Lloyd Hume, who had been playing golf with him the week before.

Hume helped to organise last year’s benefit match and said at the time: “He was loved in the changing room by all the boys but he was a hell of a player as well.

“In our first couple of seasons at Maidstone he wasn’t just instrumental on the pitch, he was instrumental to get other players in because he was one of those characters that people liked being around.

“He was such a vibrant guy and so full of life.

“He was always important and that’s why we took him wherever we went, including Maidstone.

"He’s a real character and someone who always made the players laugh.

"On the coach to away games, he was always good fun and I don’t know anyone who’s ever said a bad word about him.”