An investigation into a grandfather and keen angler's death at a Kent castle has been dropped by police.

Charlie Hilder, 66, died after reportedly being pelted with rocks by a group at Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, near Dartford last year.

Detectives had arrested two teenagers on suspicion of manslaughter following raids at properties in the Bromley area a month after Mr Hilder's death on May 28, 2020 – just four days after celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary to wife Lynne.

A post-mortem found the father-of-five, from Romford in Essex, died of a heart attack following the incident.

It is believed he had challenged suspected poachers at the private fishing lake on the castle estate.

Kent Police launched an investigation and called for footage from mobile phones, drones or dashcam and in an appeal for witnesses, revealed rocks were hurled at Mr Hilder before he suffered a heart attack and died.

But the force has confirmed to KentOnline despite gathering extensive information, the Crown Prosecution Service said there was "insufficient evidence" to progress a case in court.

The two suspects arrested – aged 17 and 18 – have been released without charge.

A force spokesman said detectives are not seeking any other suspects and it is "no longer a live investigation" so police are "not appealing for any new information".

Mr Hilder's death was referred to the coroner after the conclusion of police inquiries.

The coroner's service has also "discontinued" its own investigation and no inquest will take place, it was confirmed this week.

Mr Hilder had been helping fellow members of his angling club fill the lake with rainbow trout to fish and had stayed behind to go out on his favourite boat and fish.

But when he did not return home several hours later, family grew increasingly concerned that he was not answering his phone.

Daughter Sascha, who had made her father dinner that night, managed to track her father's phone which showed he was still at the stately home.

When she raced there to find him, police told her that her father had died and speaking last year, she said when she was told the devastating news her "heart just shattered".

Mr Hilder would have celebrated his 68th birthday last month.

Posting on his birthday, Sascha said the 538 days which had passed had been "the most hardest days of my life".

"I hope everyone up there is throwing you a party for your special day," she wrote.

"So many times I have wanted to turn to you for help, advise, a bad joke or to run an idea by you.

"Our lives are up in the air and have been since the day you were taken from us.

"You were the ground that levelled us all out and made us all see sense, you always pushed us to the right choices and ensured no matter what we were successful.

"We are all trying our best to make you proud. Keep watching down and protecting us from heaven please.

"I love you so much and miss you more than you could ever know."