A SON witnessed an accident in which his father died after ploughing the new motorcycle he was riding into a camper van, an inquest in Taunton has heard.

Christopher Charles Winter had only bought the Ducati 999 Airwaves machine two days before the tragedy on an unclassified road between Muchelney and Langport on June 14.

His son, Sean Winter, said his father overtook him at 70mph going into a bend, adding: “I saw him brake and as I approached I saw a big ball of flames and a camper van jump into the air.”

Sean’s cousin, Ryan Frome, said: “I came round the bend and the camper van was engulfed in flames.”

Camper van driver Stephen Bell, who was travelling with his wife and two children, said the bike came round the bend and smashed into the front of his vehicle before bursting into flames and catching the van alight.

The inquest heard that Mr Winter, of Springway Lane, Westonzoyland, was on the road illegally as he was only entitled to ride the motorbike under supervision from a qualified instructor.

Acting senior Coroner for West Somerset Tony Williams said the cause of death was multiple injuries and recorded a conclusion of death as a result of a road traffic collision.