A driver was killed when his open-top sports car overturned moments after being overtaken at speed on a single-carriageway road, an inquest heard.

John Martyn died instantly from multiple head injuries when he lost control of the Lotus Elan, which hit a hedge and a concrete post after leaving the A371 near his Banwell home.

Yesterday's inquest at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court heard a police accident investigator estimate that both Mr Martyn and the driver overtaking him were travelling at up to 80mph at the time of the accident at Castle Hill, near Banwell Garden Centre between Winscombe and Banwell.

The inquest heard Mr Martyn, 51, of Dark Lane, a self-employed printer, was overtaken by a heavily-modified white Peugeot 306GTi driven by 25-year-old Lee Pople, of Five Ways, Cheddar.

Accident investigator PC Andrew Grigg said: "Both approached a bend in Castle Hill and I estimate both cars were travelling at 70 to 80mph."

The inquest was told the Peugeot 306 had no rear seats, an interior roll cage had been fitted, two racing seats and a racing harness.

Mr Pople said he regularly drove between 500 and 1,000 miles a week as part of his job and had also used his car on track days.

He said on May 22 last year, he had been driving behind the yellow Lotus Elan being driven Mr Martyn as they approached Castle Hill.

He said: "It was safe to overtake the Lotus before the bend and I did and pulled back in and continued around the bend.

"I briefly looked in the rear view mirror and saw what I thought was the Lotus losing control. I did not see the accident."

PC Grigg said the Lotus had not been fitted with any roll bars as protection for the driver and the windscreen had also collapsed when it rolled over.

Andrew Mousley told the inquest that minutes before the fatal crash he had been driving in the opposite direction when he saw the yellow Lotus overtaking a car and heading towards him.

He said: "I had to brake hard and pull to the left. As he was coming towards me the driver looked petrified."

Another driver, Ben Curtis, said he was travelling at about 50mph when the Lotus and the Peugeot both overtook him at high speed travelling towards Castle Hill.

He said: "The Peugeot tried to overtake the Lotus, they were level pegging at the bottom of the corner, but I saw the Peugeot get the better and I saw the Lotus lose control as it went around the bend."

A pathologist found no trace of alcohol or drugs in Mr Martyn's blood.

Bristol deputy coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict, saying Mr Martyn had lost control of his vehicle, the Lotus rolled over and the driver had no protection.

After the hearing police said Mr Pople was due to appear before Bristol Crown Court this year to face a charge of dangerous driving.