A biker from Chartham died after hitting a kerb in thick fog and hitting a concrete fence post.

Kerry Dixon was also found to have taken cocaine but, an inquest heard, it could not be proved whether that contributed to the crash.

Coroner Rachel Redman, recording an accidental death verdict on Thursday said: “It appears he didn’t see the kerb as he came round a bend, causing him to lose control. Speed did not play a part. This was a tragic accident.”

Mr Dixon, a father-of-two, died at the scene of the accident, which happened at the junction of Pilgrims Way and Charing Hill, Charing,at 8.50pm on October 11 last year.

Neighbour Tylden Reed told the inquest at Ashford that he heard the noise of the crash from his home. He ran out to the junction where he found Mr Dixon lying on the ground and dialled 999.

PC David Kirk, forensic collision investigator, concluded that Mr Dixon had been riding downhill towards Charing when his machine had hit the kerb and he collided with a concrete fence post.

He said the fog had been very thick with visibility down to 25 metres.

There was one street light in the area that would not have given enough illumination and Mr Dixon’s vision would further have been affected by his misted helmet visor.

The inquest heard that Mr Dixon’s driving licence required him to wear spectacles but he was not found to be wearing them, nor could they be located at the scene.

He estimated that Mr Dixon had been travelling at 34 to 40mph when the speed limit is 60 and the bend could have been taken at a maximum 68mph.

PC Kirk said the road surface was damp but had no visible defects and the motorcycle, an orange 800cc Suzuki, had not contributory defects.

The inquest heard that the area was not an accident blackspot as the last fatal crash there was seven years ago.

Kerry Dixon was a dry liner for a plastering firm who lived at Bagham Lane, Chilham.

He was born and bred in Biddenden and went to Homewood School in Tenterden.

His son and daughter were aged nine and four when he died.

Mr Dixon’s father, Keith Dixon, said after the inquest: “We feel we did get the right verdict and we accept it.

“The inquest heard he had not been wearing his glasses but they have never been found, not even at his house.

“We were made aware of the cocaine before the inquest but we had not been aware that Kerry was a user.”