A Gulf War veteran died on a notorious Dorset road when his motorbike collided head-on with a car, an inquest heard.

Darren Clarke's Yamaha XJ600 was on the wrong side of the road when it struck a Mini Cooper on the A35 at Morden Park Corner on December 1 last year, district coroner Sheriff Payne was told.

Mr Clarke, 35, of Kirtleton Avenue, Weymouth, suffered horrific head injuries and his crash helmet came off during the accident as he travelled home from work in Poole at about 7.30pm.

A Bournemouth inquest was told that Mr Clarke was an experienced motorcyclist who served seven years with the Royal Navy, seeing action in the Gulf War and service in many areas including the Falklands, America, Africa, India and Egypt.

Mr Payne heard that he was attempting to overtake a lorry when he collided with the Mini, driven by Harriet Cooper from Poundbury in Dorchester.

Miss Cooper told the inquest: "I saw a headlight on my side of the road coming towards me. I could not have done anything - I braked, that was all I could do."

Witness Kellie Pratt, whose statement was read to the court, said: " I would not put any blame at all on the car driver involved."

The inquest heard that Mr Clarke, who worked at Honeywell Zellweger in Poole, died of severe head injuries and a ruptured heart, due to blunt trauma.

Recording a verdict that Mr Clarke died as the result of an accident, Mr Payne said: "Sadly it would appear that he was in error and that has sadly brought about his death."

The A35 is one of Dorset's main routes and has been the scene of many tragic accidents.