A FATAL accident which renewed calls for traffic calming in a village was not caused by speeding drivers, an inquest was told.

Accountant Geoffrey Rushton died after a BMW spun out of control and smashed into his Vauxhall Astra as he travelled to work along the A675 Belmont Road near Abbey Village in July.

The accident prompted calls for new traffic calming measures to be introduced in the area.

But the inquest heard that neither of the cars was travelling at more than the 60mph speed limit in the area.

It heard that the driver of the BMW, Rachael Smith, touched her brakes as she approached a bend and immediately felt the car start to spin.

Mr Rushton, 46, of Hill Cot Road, Sharples, Bolton, was travelling to work in Blackburn at the time of the accident. He was certified dead at the scene on the Darwen side of Belmont village shortly before the turn for Tockholes.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death. 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, had been following Mr Rushton's car since she pulled out from Scout Lane.

She said they were travelling at between 40 and 45 miles per hour, which she thought was the correct speed given that it was raining heavily.

Parish councillors have been looking at ways to improve road safety on the A675 since the deaths of Mr Rushton and 11-year-old Siobhan Wilcock, who was knocked down as she crossed the road in Abbey Village a week earlier.

A meeting of Withnell Parish Council on Thursday considered numerous proposals and councillor Kerry Jones described the mood as one of determination.

"We are determined that something will be done to improve safety on this stretch of the A675," said Coun Jones.