A man was killed on his way to a family reunion when his car skidded into the kerb and slammed roof-first into a roadside bridge, an inquest heard.

James Matthews, of Bretforton, near Evesham, was driving home at around 8.45am on Sunday, August 31, when he attempted to overtake a Ford Transit van as it approached a left-hand bend in the road.

The inquest was told that Mr Matthews, a 24-year-old welder, was travelling at around 65mph - well above the 40mph speed limit - when he sped past the van and cut back into the left-hand lane.

As he tried to slow down, the car - a blue Ford Fiesta - "oversteered" and snaked across the road, before hitting the kerb and flipping.

"The blue car cut back in, then braked, and the back end actually lifted up," said Charles McAllister, the driver of the red van.

"The car then left the road and slammed into a bridge."

The accident took place on the B4035 between Badsey and Bretforton, near the junction with Back Lane.

Eight police officers attended the incident, along with an ambulance and firefighters, and Mr Matthews was pronounced dead at the scene just after 9.15am.

At yesterday's inquest at Stourport-on-Severn, Victor Round, Worcestershire County Coroner, said the high pressure in the front car tyres was also a contributory factor.

"It was a combination of the exaggerated steering movement required after overtaking on a left-hand bend and the tendency to oversteer due to high tyre pressures that led to the loss of control," he said.

Mr Matthews died from chest injuries caused during the crash, and a verdict of accidental death was recorded.