WEYMOUTH policeman Robin Povall died when his pedal bike collided with a car which had turned across his path, an inquest heard.

Father-of-three Mr Povall, 50, was involved in the crash with a Nissan Micra in March this year in Radipole Lane, Weymouth, as the car turned right into Causeway.

The inquest into Mr Povall's death was heard at Bridport Magistrates' Court by West Dorset coroner Michael Johnston.

PC Christina Wales of Ferndown Road Policing Unit told the inquest that Mr Povall's bike would have hit the front of the car at between 20mph and 37mph, sending Mr Povall up into the air. She said the car was travelling at five to 10mph as it pulled into Causeway. The driver of the car, 36-year-old Tina Ward of Bagwell Farm in Chickerell, was advised by her solicitor not to give evidence at the inquest, but PC Stephen Budd read from her police interview.

In it she said: "I looked along Radipole Lane as I approached the junction with Causeway and there was nothing there. I changed into second gear. I looked again and there was nothing there. I glanced up again and then bang. I didn't know where he had come from. I looked out of the window and saw a cyclist on the floor. I've been over it so many times trying to work out why I didn't see him."

Gerald Holloway of Burton Bradstock, who was in a car behind Miss Ward at the time of the crash, told the inquest he heard a whooshing sound then a low explosion. He said he then saw debris fly up and realised a person had been hit.

A statement from first-aider Paula Mackie of Weymouth was read out at the inquest telling how she tried to reassure Mr Povall until paramedics arrived.

She said: "He was lying on his side and I was talking to him, but he didn't seem to hear me. His pupils were dilated and he was breathing erratically. I talked to him to calm him and held his hand which he kept squeezing."

PC Wales said both Mr Povall and Miss Ward would have been able to see each other for at least 115 metres and that Mr Povall was wearing brightly coloured clothing which would have increased his visibility.

When Mr Povall saw the car turning into his path PC Wales said he would have had less than three seconds to react and wouldn't have had a chance to avoid the collision.

She said Miss Ward, who was in the car with her son, had her sun visors down at the time of the crash and Mr Povall could have been behind a visor when she looked along the road.

Mr Johnston read the report of pathologist Dr Khaled Jaber which said Mr Povall suffered fatal internal injuries.

Mr Johnston recorded a verdict that Mr Povall died as the result of an accident. He said he had worked with Mr Povall on numerous occasions and it was a privilege to have known him.

Mr Povall, of Radipole in Weymouth, worked as a scenes of crime examiner and leaves his wife Jayne and three children.