A CORONER recorded a verdict of accidental death yesterday at an inquest into the death of a Witney motorcyclist.

Lawrence Gunter was killed in a collision with a car outside Hilltop Garden Centre on the B4022 Witney Road at Ramsden in April last year.

The 59-year-old of Manor Road, Witney, attempted to manoeuvre around Francis McKenna's Citroen, the inquest heard.

Mr McKenna told the inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court he had been out for the afternoon with his wife and was turning into Hilltop garden centre when a collision occurred.

He said: "I believe I signalled to turn right well in advance, there wasn't anything in front of us or coming towards us, so we made the turning into the garden centre.

"I felt and heard the impact. I had no idea what was happening."

Mr McKenna trembled as he added: "I couldn't quite understand what had happened.

"My wife was covered in glass so I was worried and wanted to check she was ok.

"Then I got out of the car and realised a motorcycle had embedded itself into the car."

Eyewitness Janet Moore was behind Mr McKenna's car when she heard the "loud roar" of a motorbike coming past her.

She said: "As I was going down the hill I heard a motorbike and looked in the mirror.

"I just knew it was going to happen. I could just feel it.

"His front wheel raised and the motorbike swung round and hit the car.

"The rider came off and landed a little way away.

"It all happened so fast."

PC Steven Jenkins, of Thames Valley Police's collision investigation unit, said there was nothing to indicate that Mr Gunter was speeding.

Referring to the front wheel lifting into the air, PC Jenkins said that was a result of the collision.

He explained "The vehicle collided, lifting it up with a wheelie effect."

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner told Mr Gunter's family: "This was sadly nothing more than a tragic accident."