ACCOUNTANT Geoffrey Rushton died after a BMW went out of control and smashed into his Vauxhall Astra as he travelled to work along the A675 Belmont Road, an inquest was told.

BMW driver Rachael Smith touched her brakes as she approached a bend but the car started to spin.

Mr Rushton, 46, of Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton, was certified dead at the scene on the Darwen side of Belmont village shortly before the turn for Tockholes.

Mrs Smith was taken by helicopter to Blackburn Royal Infirmary after being cut out of the wreckage of her car.

Police accident investigator, Steven Wilson, revealed that the BMW, which belonged to Mrs Smith's father, was fitted with mud and snow tyres on the rear axle. He said BMW recommended that if these are used they should be on all four wheels and Michelin, who manufactured the tyres on the front axle, also recommended identical tyres all round.

"It is possible these tyres may not have provided the same level of grip as conventional tyres such as those fitted to the front," said PC Wilson. "They may have played some part in the loss of traction but the main reason was the actions of the driver."

PC Wilson said neither car appeared to have been travelling at above the 60mph limit.

Samantha Holland, of Mallard Drive, Horwich, who had been following Mr Rushton's car since she pulled out from Scout Lane, she said they were travelling at between 40 and 45 mph which she thought was the correct speed given that it was raining heavily.

As they approached a gradual left hand bend after the Belmont Reservoir she suddenly saw the BMW as it collided with the Astra.

In a police interview, read to the inquest, Mrs Smith said she had borrowed her father's car because her husband needed theirs to go for a job interview.

She was travelling to work at Tonge Moor Social Services in Bolton and knew the road well. She also said she was familiar with the BMW and had driven it on that road previously.

Mrs Smith said that as she approached the bend she saw a blue car coming from the other direction.

"I touched the brakes and I seemed to lose control," she said. "The car started to spin round in the road and I recall there was a large impact. I was trying to gain control of the steering but I was unable to do so."

Mr Rushton, who was travelling to work in Blackburn, was certified dead at the scene by a passing doctor. He died of multiple injuries.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.