A MAN died in a crash after he had been drinking at a New Forest pub.

Michael Webb was riding a motorbike on Hordle Lane in Hordle when he collided with a black BMW, an inquest heard.

Winchester Coroner’s Court was told the 58-year-old had been drinking at the Royal Oak before the accident.

In a statement, Katie Mills, who was working at the pub, said Mr Webb was a regular.

She said that evening she had provided Mike with three drinks but was not aware if he had had more. The court heard how, before leaving the pub, he had told staff members he would push his motorbike home.

But he made a different decision and crashed into a car coming in the opposite direction, the court was told.

James Coleman, the driver of the BMW, said: “I didn’t have time to react. It was instantaneous. I felt the collision straight away.”

Mr Coleman phoned the emergency services while his partner performed CPR.

The court heard the incident happened at a bend on what has been described as a country road with no street lights.

Police forensic collision investigator Antony Clifford said the motorbike crossed into the opposite lane.

He also said it had not been possible to confirm at what speed the motorbike was being ridden but said Mr Coleman was within the speed limit, at about 30mph.

A post-mortem found Mr Webb was “something under 2.5 times the drink-drive limit” and suffered multiple injuries.

Senior coroner Grahame Short said: “The evidence does show that the motorcycle was close to the centre of the road and I have to accept that the effect of alcohol are likely to have affected Mike’s reaction to the approaching car. My conclusion is that Mike died of multiple injuries.”

He recorded a verdict of death due to a road traffic collision.