'GROSSLY overinflated' tyres likely contributed to a crash near Bicester which killed a 22-year-old soldier when his new quad bike overturned, an inquest was told.

Lance Corporal Christopher Abbott, based at Tidworth Garrison, in Wiltshire, had bought the bike just an hour before the accident on April 3.

Mr Abbott, originally from Chesterfield, had exchanged his Renault Clio with Aston Green, who advertised the quad bike on Facebook, and was on his way back from the man's Northampton home when the accident occurred at around 7.15pm.

Mr Green had recently bought the bike in Didcot but decided it was too small.

The father-of-one was airlifted to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but died on April 11 from head injuries sustained when he was thrown from the bike on the A4095, between Chesterton and Kirtlington.

Giving evidence at Oxford Coroner's Court yesterday collision investigator PC Dan Henderson said: "The A4095 is a straight rural road and there is evidence the bike was not going fast when it overturned. The fact we found the bike had grossly overinflated tyres, which were 800 per cent more full than is recommended, would have had a detrimental impact on steering control."

He said an animal on the road was the most probable cause of the accident.

Police launched an appeal for witnesses following the fatal crash but chief investigating officer PC Phil Hanham said no eyewitnesses to the crash had ever been found.

Oxfordshire's assistant coroner Nicholas Graham concluded death by road traffic accident and said it was unlikely the true events would ever be known.