MAIL Coach landlord Mark Hodges who died last year in a motorcycle accident had been drinking and had only had a few hours sleep, a coroner heard.

The popular landlord of the gay pub in Fleet Street, Swin-don, died instantly on August 8 when his Suzuki collided head-on with a Ford Granada near Lechlade.

Oxford coroner Nicholas Gardiner warned of the dangers of driving on a few hours sleep after drinking the night before.

The court was told that Mr Hodges was late for work and driving at high speeds on the A361 near the turning for Langford at Broughton Poggs, south of Burford.

Eye witness John Krouse, of Fairford Road, Lechlade, said that Mr Hodges overtook him at about 100mph.

Mr Krouse saw the collision, which looked "like an explosion" and called the emergency services before giving Mr Hodges first-aid.

Dr Ian Roberts, consultant pathologist at Horton Hos-pital in Banbury, said that Mr Hodges, 31, of Stanmore Street, Swindon, died instantly of multiple injuries.

He said that Mr Hodges was over the legal drink-drive limit.

Granada driver Roy Butler, of Cheltenham, said that he was travelling towards Lech-lade at about 45mph when he saw a van coming towards him.

He said: "As I got by it a motorcyclist appeared in front of me. I had no time to react."

Mr Gardiner said that it looked as if Mr Hodges had been trying to overtake a vehicle when the accident happened.

He said: "He had a substantial amount of alcohol in his blood stream and was late for work.

"None of these factors are conducive to safe driving."

Mr Hodges had been the joint landlord of the Mail Coach for two years and had previously worked for Dyson in Malmesbury. He grew up on a farm near Tetbury.

The coroner recorded a verdict of death as a result of an accident.

Tamash Lal