A MOTORIST who died after his vehicle struck two parked cars and the wall of a takeaway shop, was driving an unroadworthy car while almost twice over the drinking and driving limit, an inquest heard.

The inquest at County Hall, Durham, yesterday, heard that Craig Clive Robson, 21, of Station Lane, Station Town, County Durham, was on his way home when the accident happened, on February 24.

He had been driving his Rover 214Si to his girlfriend Claire Gooder's house when he met her in her yellow Ford Ka at a roundabout at the approach to Station Town.

Ms Gooder, of Hutton Henry, said she agreed to see Mr Robson back at his house and after following her for a short while, he accelerated to overtake her on a blind bend.

She said: "The back end of the car swung to the right then too far to the left. After the crash, I jumped out of the car and heard him say 'Claire'. There was nothing after that."

Witness Anthony Wilkinson said that he saw Mr Robson's car collide with an unoccupied Suzuki Vitara parked in Front Street, spin round, hit Gill's Golden Take Away, then bounce off it and hit a parked Ford Escort, which was also unoccupied.

He sustained multiple skull fractures, and was certified dead at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The inquest heard that Mr Robson was almost twice over the alcohol limit and was not wearing a seat belt. The car also had two bald front tyres.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, north Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said: "It was a combined influence of alcohol and speed which led Craig to lose control, certainly not helped by the state of the two front tyres."