THE last person to hear the voice of speed ace Donald Campbell will not be called to give evidence at the inquest into his death, it has been revealed.

Paul Evans, a retired police officer who lives in Darlington, spoke out after he heard that the inquest would be going ahead - without his evidence.

Donald Campbell died while trying to break his own water speed record on Coniston Water, Cumbria in 1967. Mr Evans, 62, who was an acting sergeant in the Royal Corps of Signals stationed at Catterick, was seconded to run the radio communications for Campbell's bid to become the first man to go faster than 300mph on water.

He told The Northern Echo: "I read about the inquest going ahead in the paper and I thought it was really strange that I hadn't been called to give evidence.

"As far as I know, there are only two witnesses still alive who are able to give evidence about how he died.

"At inquests, they usually go through every aspect of a person's death, and I would think that my evidence would be crucial."

Campbell's body was recovered from Coniston last May.

A spokesman for the coroner's office in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, said last night: "The coroner has read the transcript of the last moments of Donald Campbell's life.

"The main point of the inquest is to establish what happened to the boat and we had to find an expert who could analyse a jet engine in a water vehicle, who was difficult to find.

"The coroner does not feel he needs to call a witness because he has read the necessary documents."

Paul Evans was 26 when he heard Campbell's last words: "The water's dark green and I can't see a bloody thing... hallo the bow is up... I'm going... I'm on my back.. I'm gone."

Bluebird's bow then lifted up and it turned a somersault, breaking in half and plunging into the depths of the lake.

The inquest will be held in Coniston on Friday, October 25.