A MAN who was was killed in a head-on crash on one of Britain's most dangerous roads was not wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard.

Phillip Stephen Gordon, 21, of Lydgate, Burnley, was driving a Ford Fiesta when it was in collision with a Vauxhall Astra on the A682 Gisburn Road at Middop.

Clarets fan Phillip suffered massive head and chest injuries and died at the scene of the crash on September 5.

An inquest heard Phillip's Fiesta was trying to overtake another vehicle near the Todber caravan park on the notorious road which crosses the moors between Nelson and Gisburn when it was in a head-on collision with the Astra, being driven by Anna Hollingworth, 24, of Holme Lea, Rimington Lane, Rimington.

Miss Hollingworth suffered slight injuries.

A passenger in the Fiesta, Justine Emma Smith, 17, of Newhouse Farm, Tosside, near Slaidburn, was taken to Burnley General Hospital with serious injuries but is believed to be making a full recovery. She remembers nothing of the accident.

Eye-witness Trevor Ahlquist, told the court he noticed the Fiesta driving behind him and about to pull-out as if to overtake before spotting a set of headlights travelling towards him on the opposite carriageway.

He said: "The headlights were getting closer and closer and I said to my wife 'he's not going to make it' and then the cars collided."

Accident investigator Tim Hogan said he had calculated the Fiesta was driving at around 54mph on the 60mph road.

He added: "Neither the driver nor the passenger were wearing seat belts and if they had been then the injuries are likely to have been less serious.

"This was a case of error judgement by the driver of the Fiesta."

Deputy Coroner Mark Williams recorded a verdict of accidental death and said: "This was a tragic error where Phillip tried to execute an overtaking manoeuvre that would have been possible. However he misjudged it and that led to his death."

Phillip, a former St Theodore's High School pupil, leaves parents Maureen and Alan Gordon and an older brother and sister.