A MAN who lost control of his car, leading to an accident in which he and two others died, had been using his mobile phone while driving, an inquest heard.

Supermarket worker Mark Sarwar, 27, clipped the kerb on the A419 near Swindon, crossed the central reservation and collided with an oncoming Land Rover.

Mr Sarwar, who worked as a department manager at Asda in West Swindon, died along with the Land Rover driver Matthew Williamson and his passenger Michael Naylor. The occupants of another car involved in the crash were unhurt.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters reiterated a warning about the dangers of speaking on a mobile phone while driving after hearing evidence at the inquest into the three men's death.

Investigations by phone company Orange revealed that, at 6.54pm, when the accident was reported to police, a friend of Mr Sarwar had called his mobile and was diverted to answerphone.

And Mr Sarwar had made a call to the friend 12 minutes earlier while driving, the inquest was told.

Sergeant Mark Levitt told the inquest: "There is a great deal of concern about the use of mobile phones and if the mobile phone was the cause of the loss of control this is just an horrendous way to demonstrate the dangers involved."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Masters said either Mr Sarwar clipped the kerb for some reason or he may have been distracted by his mobile phone ringing.

Mr Masters said: "What cannot be said is whether or not the call being made to him was just prior to the collision or came after the collision and was referred to the answerphone. I endorse the comments Sgt Levitt has made about the use of mobile phones, particularly when there is no hands free facility. If that was the case here, then it has had an horrendous effect."

The coroner added that, having previously urged a safety review of the A419, he endorsed plans in progress to bridge a 400m gap in the barrier at the crash site initiated by a Highways Agency review of the road in January.

The hearing was told that Mr Sarwar, from Birmingham, was driving north along the A419 at Blunsdon on December 15 when the accident happened. He and Mr Williamson, 31, of Surrey, died at the scene. Mr Naylor, of Hertfordshire, was dead on arrival at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Rachel and David Dunn, of South Cerney, told the inquest that as Mr Sarwar's car overtook them, doing about 75mph, he clipped the central kerb and veered towards on-coming traffic.

No evidence of alcohol was found on any of the crash victims and police vehicle examiners found no mechanical faults with either car.

After the hearing Mr Williamson's father Colin said: "Matthew was a wonderful boy. If something good comes from this it would be highlighting the need for a barrier there, as well as highlighting the possible dangers of mobile phones."