A 23-year-old machine operator killed in a head-on crash was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the collision, an inquest heard.

Curtis Graham’s grey Nissan “crossed to the opposite lane and collided head-on with another vehicle”, the Bournemouth inquest was told.

Mr Graham, of Allen Road, Shaftesbury, was travelling in a southerly direction towards the B3091 when the collision took place just before 9am on Monday April 1 at Ram’s Hill, Sturminster Newton.

Acting Dorset Coroner Brendan Allen was told Mr Graham was negotiating a left-hand bend when the accident took place.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and a post mortem examination revealed he died of multiple traumatic injuries.

The inquest was told Mr Graham was formally identified by his mother, Jennifer Larrington-White.

The inquest was adjourned until November 21 to allow for further inquiries.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene and discovered the car had collided with a silver Peugeot Boxer panel van.

The driver of the van sustained minor injuries and the road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Following Mr Graham’s death, more than 100 cars took part in a procession in his memory.

They travelled from Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford, near Yeovil, to West Bay, many travelling in modified cars.

Mr Graham’s dad, Waine Graham, drove his son’s old white BMW in the procession.