A CORONER has issued a warning to motorists after a 'death trap car' cost a Colne man his life.

Peter Bruce Scott, 55, of Clondyke Central Prospect Farm, died of multiple injuries on the Blacko to Gisburn stretch of the A6842.

Passenger Andrew Dwyer of Clondyke Weir, Colne, told the inquest in the Ribble Valley Council Chamber, that he was travelling with Mr Scott to a winter solstice gathering.

"We weren't in a great hurry but it started blowing a gale. When we reached a bend near the Moorcock pub Peter turned the steering wheel but the car didn't turn. It carried straight on and collided with a Land Rover coming in the opposite direction.

"The windscreen was pushed in and I shouted to see if he was alright but he looked unconscious. I was injured and trapped in the car."

Land Rover driver George Simpson, of Champion Farm, Bolton-by-Bowland, described how he saw the deceased man's Fiat Uno coming towards him on the wrong side of the road. "The collision was inevitable," he said.

PC John Sutcliffe, of the Accident Investigation Unit in Preston, said a heavy gas cylinder and tree trunk in the back of the Fiat Uno had catapulted forward and added to the impact of the crash.

Two of the car's tyres were also defective, one being completely devoid of tread.

"The dye was cast and the outcome was inevitable if the Fiat Uno hadn't hit the Land Rover then it would have hit a brick wall," he said.

East Lancashire coroner Carolyn Singleton said motorists had a responsibility to ensure their vehicles were in a roadworthy condition.

"Tyres were defective and there were two extremely heavy items in the back of the vehicle that were not secured.

"Road conditions were also deteriorating. They were travelling in a deathtrap and Mr Scott paid the ultimate price with his life."

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Scott had died of multiple injuries and the coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.