A MAN was killed at an off-road day when children as young as 12 were behind the wheel of 4x4s.

Adam Cluley, aged 16, had next to no driving experience when he took control of a powerful Land Rover Tomcat which hit a gully and flipped over, killing passenger Andrew Cooper.

An inquest into his death was held at the coroner's court in Stourport-on-Severn on Monday following the accident at a track on 40 acres of land at Coney Green Farm, near Stourport on Sunday, February 4.

Mr Cooper, aged 29, of Greenhill Road, Halesowen, died of multiple injuries after he was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

Mr Cluley who was winded and suffered grazes to his head during the accident said at the inquest that the vehicle had been put in rear-wheel drive which made it handle differently.

He added: "The back of the vehicle carried on sliding until it picked up momentum and got caught and flipped. I looked around for Mr Cooper. I ran over. He was in discomfort. There were no initial signs of life. I ran for help straight away and flagged down my dad."

Accident investigators concluded Mr Cooper was not wearing a seatbelt and that it was in any case defective and would not have saved his life.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams was critical of the owner of the farm, Patricia Crump, and said no risk assessment had been carried out although many of the group had signed disclaimers.

A health and safety improvement notice has since been served on her and signs have been put up warning drivers to slow down to 10 mph in dangerous places.

She said at the inquest she believed that no-one driving was underage and that everyone who took the wheel would have had a full driving licence.

Mr Williams said: "I found her evidence to be unsatisfactory. It's very clear there was no control exercised on anyone who went to Coney Green Farm. There were no signs or hazard markings on the farm.

"There's a legal duty of care for people who come onto private land. It must have been glaringly obvious that this was a group of private individuals with a number of very young children from the age of 12 years. It's shocking there were not better controls in place."

The inquest heard there had already been an accident earlier on that day in which the 16 year-old daughter of the organiser, Richard Flynn, had to be taken to hospital after she suffered cuts to her hand when a 4X4 turned on its side.

Mr Flynn, who organised the day as a present for his daughter's 16th birthday said he felt "hugely" responsible for Mr Cooper's death.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The family of Mr Cooper declined to comment.