A VERDICT of accidental death has been recorded on a motorcyclist killed in a collision with a milk float in Radcliffe.

Mr Jefferson Perry Wilson Steadman, of Beaver Drive, Unsworth, suffered multiple injuries when he came off his 250cc Asprilla after braking to avoid hitting the float.

Bury District Coroner Mr Barrie Williams was told Mr Steadman (32) had been severely deaf since birth but was proficient at driving both cars and motorbikes. He had been a motorcyclist since 1988 and was regarded as a careful road user.

Evidence was given by his widow Janette, now of Polefield Gardens, Prestwich, who is also deaf.

The fatality occurred last summer but due to administrative problems and the need for sign language experts, the inquest had been delayed.

Mr Steadman, a French polisher, was on his way to work in Bolton and was travelling along Bury and Bolton Road, Radcliffe, when the milk float, driven by Mrs Ethel Joan Snowdon, from Rochdale, emerged from a farm entrance.

Mr Steadman, it appeared, may have moved across to go round the milk float, but realised he could not make it and braked sharply. The back brakes locked and he came off his bike, which hit the rear of the float knocking, off milk crates.

Witnesses said Mr Steadman had earlier overtaken a car where he may have reached a speed of 60mph but police experts believed he may have been travelling at between 42 and 44 mph when he applied his brakes

Mrs Snowdon, in a statement, said she had gone to a farm to get extra milk and had missed her turning. She had pulled into another farm entrance and had straightened up to turn right back towards Bury.

She saw no traffic coming and had pulled across the road when the motorcyclist appeared travelling along the centre of the road. She had tried to get out of the way.

The coroner was told the milk float had a tyre with the tread below the legal limit and one or two other braking defects but this had not contributed to the accident.

Mr Steadman was taken to hospital but did not recover consciousness, having suffered extensive fractures.