A FATHER has called for a change in the law after an inquest revealed his son did not have a full motorcycle licence when his 400cc Kawasaki collided with a car on New Year's Eve.

Soldier Daniel Richens' father David had no idea he had bought the powerful machine until the police contacted him to say he was seriously injured as a result of the crash on the Cheney Manor industrial estate road.

"My son should have been responsible," said Mr Richens. "But how is it that someone can go into a motorcycle shop and buy a motorbike that is unrestricted without any proof that they have passed their test.

"You have to pass all these tests and you can't ride an unrestricted motorbike for two years after your test, but you can still just go into a shop and buy one.

"The law needs to be changed and retailers should be able to ask to see a licence for the bike."

The inquest at Swindon Central Police Station heard that Daniel, aged 22, of Joseph Street, died at the Great Western Hospital from head injuries.

His motorcycle had ploughed into a Volvo estate and ricocheted into another car shortly after overtaking a Renault Laguna on New Year's Eve 2002.

Witness Mark Harbour, of Squires Copse, Peatmoor, described how the motorcyle pulled out and passed him at high speed as he drove up the incline.

He said it pulled back onto the left lane and then braked hard. The rear wheel locked and there was a cloud of black smoke. Mr Harbour said the machine then collided with a Volvo which was turning right across their lane and into Lynton Road, and ricocheted off a Vauxhall Astra.

Mr Harbour said the motorcyclist was travelling at at least 60mph.

After the accident, Volvo driver Jeffrey Milsom, of Marlborough, told police he had been on his way to buy a car part from a supplier in Lynton Lane and had taken his three children with him for company.

As he approached the turning he indicated and braked. He could see what he thought was a blue van coming towards him but judged that he didn't need to stop. He had started to turn and was crossing the right-hand lane when he became aware of something in his peripheral vision approaching at high speed. He pressed hard on the accelerator but the car was hit before it had time to react.

Accident investigator PC Roger Blythin said that, based on witness evidence, Mr Milsom would have had around 1.6 seconds to react once Daniel began to overtake Mr Harbour's Laguna.

Speed and the unexpected manoeuvre contributed to the Volvo driver's failure to see Daniel until it was too late. He said: "Had Mr Richens been travelling at 30mph, he could have reacted and stopped before colliding with the Volvo."

Police inquiries revealed that although he had a full driving licence, he only had a provisional licence for a motorcycle, limiting him to 125cc.

Recording a verdict of accidental death deputy coroner William Bache, paid tributes to the efforts of the emergency services who had done all they could to try and save Daniel.