Tributes have been paid to an Aylesford pensioner whose body was found in woodland near Leybourne Lakes on Thursday last week – a week after he went missing.

Frank Gore, 86, vanished from his Lunsford Lane home after returning from an appointment at Maidstone Hospital on September 14.

It is understood the grandfather, who had poor mobility, was found in a stream.

John Pierce, 84, a friend and next-door neighbour of more than 50 years, said he would be very much missed by all who knew him.

Mr Gore was a former fitter at a box factory in New Hythe Lane. He first moved on to the estate in the 1950s with his wife Elizabeth, who died several years ago.

He leaves behind two sons, Alec and Bernard.

He was passionate about gardening and cars, and regularly attended nearby Holy Trinity Church.

Mr Pierce said he last saw his friend on the morning of his disappearance, removing weeds from a patch of land in between their two houses.

He said: “There seemed liked hundreds of police running about and I had three men and women come round to ask me what I knew.

"He was a very nice man, very quiet and kept himself to himself" - John Pierce

“He was quite good with his hands and he was a mechanic at heart and good with cars. He had a car that must have been 100 years old and he kept that one running until he had to pack it all in.”

“We always got on well, he was a very nice man, very quiet and kept himself to himself. He rarely went on holiday except when he and his wife went to Hong Kong. He will be very much missed.”

Witnesses reported seeing forensic officers, fire engines and a private ambulance at Leybourne Lakes, next to Castle Way, on Thursday last week.

They were reported to have remained late into the evening.

The death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner.