ROAD traffic police are investigating whether a man hit by an ambulance in Barnoldswick was standing in a cycle lane at the time, Burnley Coroner's Court has been told.

An inquest was opened before East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor into the death of Neal Garner, 49, who died after being struck by a North West Ambulance Service vehicle on May 29.

Coroner's officer Pc Steve Rothwell said: "He was walking along the cycleway on Kelbrook Road when he was struck by an ambulance on an emergency training exercise."

Pc Rothwell confirmed that the ambulance was displaying blue emergency lights and sirens at the time of the collision.

The coroner questioned whether Mr Garner had been stood in the road when the collision occurred but Pc Rothwell said the matter still had to be investigated further before that conclusion could be reached.

The inquest heard that paramedics on the scene administered first aid to Mr Garner, of Bracewell Street, Barnoldswick.

An air ambulance from the Yorkshire service was placed on standby, to airlift the critically-injured man to hospital, but was not eventually required.

He was then taken by a second ambulance to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. His body was later identified by his ex-wife Helen Garner.

The inquest has been adjourned so further enquiries can be made by the police regarding his death.

Pathologists at Burnley General Hospital have also requested toxicological tests to be carried out on Mr Garner's body.

Police have previously said that Mr Garner was in the middle of a mobile phone call when he was struck by the ambulance.