A driver's "gamble" to overtake on a road near Worcester led to the death of a car passenger, a jury heard.

Justin Cramman's Vauxhall Astra smashed head-on into a Rover 620 being driven towards him by John Ludlow.

Mr Ludlow and his wife Diane, aged 48, from Bromyard, climbed from the wreckage on the A44 near Cotheridge, but she had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance and was pronounced dead at hospital, said Denis Desmond, prosecuting.

He told Worcester Crown Court: "The defendant had taken a gamble which didn't pay off. His car was completely on the wrong side of the road."

Cramman, aged 34, of Firs Walk, Bromyard, denies a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. He was driving home from Worcester at about 10pm on March 6 last year. Near Laylocks nursery, he began overtaking a Suzuki.

Mr Desmond said the Astra was not powerful enough to complete the manoeuvre and gave Mr Ludlow no chance of avoiding a head-on crash.

Mr Ludlow told the jury he had been a driver for 41 years, and had no other accidents or convictions. He was driving at 50-56mph when he saw the lights from the overtaking car coming towards him.

He said: "I never had time to brake. "It was all over in an instant. There was a tremendous impact."

He said Cramman stayed in his car and he admitted he swore at the defendant.

Cramman told police the route was so familiar he could do it with his eyes closed.

"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he added.

Asked by police if his poor judgement had led to the crash, he allegedly replied "yes".

Mr Desmond said: "He appeared to be accepting some blame for this collision."

The trial continues.