A FATHER and son's day out at an off-road motor sports track ended in tragedy, an inquest was told.

Todd Nicolson, 41, visited the track at Sedgefield, County Durham, with teenage son Robert, one of his friends, and neighbour Gene Elliott.

Van driver Mr Nicolson, from Mersey Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, asked to "have a go'' on Mr Elliott's Honda CR500 trail bike, riding it without helmet or protective equipment.

He was on his second circuit at the Alf Walton Motor Sports Centre when he left the track and branched off towards some bushes.

In a statement, eyewitness Jordan Fletcher said: "I could see the handlebars start to wobble, like he was losing control."

Both Mr Nicolson and the bike ended up in a water-filled ditch.

An air ambulance flew an unconscious Mr Nicolson to the University Hospital of North Tees, at Stockton, where he died from internal bleeding and multiple injuries.

Qualified vehicle examiner Dale Cowey, a constable with Durham Police, said the rear braking system on the Honda motorcycle was defective. But he added that he did not consider it had contributed to the tragedy.

Landowner Alf Walton told assistant deputy coroner Anthony Eastwood that all riders using the track at Low Hardwick Farm did so at their own risk.

He said spot checks were carried out, their regularity depending on how busy the circuits were.

Sedgefield District Council environmental health officer Terry Holden said the local authority had made various recommendations on future management of the centre to Mr Walton, following the accident in October 2002.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Eastwood said: "There seems to be no explanation why Mr Nicolson left the normal track."