1913: Pioneering pilot Leslie Macdonald and his mechanic, Harry English, died from their injuries after crashing into the River Thames.

They were flying a Vickers No 6 monoplane which had been converted into a bi-plane.

It is believed the engine suffered sudden loss of power. An inquest would be held at Dartford.

1963: The smog which descended on London and north Kent in the first week of December claimed more than 40 lives.

For several days the fog blanketed most of the capital and traffic moved at walking pace.

A policeman on duty at the Poverest traffic lights in Orpington said: “All I heard were bangs all around me as cars hit each other”.

Many pedestrians wore face masks to protect themselves from poisonous industrial gasses swirling in the atmosphere.