A POTHOLE may have caused a scooter rider to lose control of his bike and hit an oncoming car.

Anthony Marsh, aged 40, was riding his Lambretta scooter to Minehead on September 19 when the fatal accident occurred at Sandford Corner, on the A39 near Wembdon.

An inquest at Bridgwater Town Hall heard that Mr Marsh, of Swainswick, near Bath, was a competent rider of many years.

Mr Marsh's brother asked police to investigate the possibility of a pothole in the road as it seemed strange that his brother, who died at the scene, would lose control.

Chris Letherby, driving behind Mr Marsh, recalled the bike bucking suddenly as he was going round a bend, causing it to veer into the path of a Citroen Xsara Picasso.

Mr Letherby, of Cannington, said he drove along the road every day and claimed the pothole was about the size of an A4 piece of paper. He believes the road was resurfaced two weeks later.

He said: "I saw Mr Marsh lose control, then he went across the road in a split second and hit a high vehicle – I couldn't tell you what it was.

"I believe he hit this metal divot, an electrical or water hole, in the middle of the road – this could have been the cause of the accident."

The Citroen driver, Amanda Arlotte, also of Cannington, had her four-year-old daughter in the back. She said: "I saw the scooter but he drove into me. I couldn't do anything."

West Somerset coroner Michael Rose said: "I would like police and Mr Letherby to look at the road and if they find a divot I will take the matter up with highways."

Police investigators confirmed Mrs Arlotte was doing 42mph, but could not confirm the Lambretta's speed.

Police also said the scooter had no faults but its small wheel size could have easily been affected by a divot.

A toxicology report confirmed there were no alcohol or drugs in Mr Marsh's system when he died.

Mr Rose called it a "tragic accident" and recorded a verdict of accidental death due to multiple injuries.