A DRIVER who turned his car into the path of a motorcyclist on a Cotswold road told police he "never saw" the approaching rider until it was too late, an inquest heard.

Following the collision at the junction of the A436 and A435 near Andoversford, Cheltenham, 68-year-old Brian Bates, of Birmingham, told officers he "could not recall" seeing the black-clad Nicholas Homden riding towards him even though the motorcyclist had his headlights on.

The Cirencester inquest heard that Mr Homden, of Lawrence Slead, Ramsbury, Marlborough, died from injuries he sustained when his black Triumph motorbike smashed into Mr Bates' blue Austin Maestro on March 29 last year.

An experienced rider, the 40-year-old had been travelling along the A435 towards Cirencester from Cheltenham when the car swung out in front of him as he tried to make a right turn on to the A436.

Cotswold coroner Lester Maddrell heard that Mr Homden had braked heavily to try and avoid the collision, but had fallen from his bike before hitting the Maestro at speed.

Mr Homden died at the scene from multiple injuries despite the efforts of a passing doctor to revive him.

Mr Maddrell heard that Mr Bates had since been fined and disqualified by the criminal courts after he was convicted of charges relating to his driving on March 29.

He recorded a verdict of death by unintentional road traffic accident.