A verdict of accidental death was recorded on a holiday-maker killed in an accident involving a Morgan sports car.

Worcestershire's deputy coroner Tim Sherwood said Catherine Ralphs, 74, who was known by her middle name of Marjorie, died from traumatic transaction of the aorta following the crash on August 21.

At around 3pm, Mrs Ralphs' husband Stanley was driving their red Rover 820si and caravan towards Blackmore Park caravan park, from their home in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Mr Ralphs told the inquest he slowed down to begin the right turn into the narrow entrance, when a Morgan Aero 8 driven by New Zealander Nathan Graham came round a corner in the opposite direction.

Mr Graham, an amateur racing driver, had just picked up his girlfriend Monica Gilmore from nearby Stable Farm. Employed by a Los Angeles company to oversee the building of two Morgan racing cars, he had bor-rowed the car from Morgan.

Mr Ralphs said: "I was part way round when I heard the sound, I didn't know what it was. It sounded like tearing cloth. I could see the other vehicle coming towards me, there was smoke appearing up from each wheel."

The Morgan skidded and struck the front passenger side of the Rover, causing it to buckle inwards. Mrs Ralphs was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Sherwood said there was nothing either man could have done to avoid the collision.

Witnesses reported seeing the Morgan travelling very quickly moments before the crash. In October, Mr Graham admitted to two counts of driving with defective tyres.