CORONER Lester Maddrell was unable to say why two people died in a road traffic accident in the Cotswolds earlier this year.

He recorded an open verdict on Robert Edward Smith aged 68, of Paignton, Devon, and his passenger Freda Margaret Forster, 66, Stoke-on-Trent, who died when Mr Smith's Jenson Interceptor struck the roundabout at the junction of the A429 and A40 south of Bourton on June 30.

The car then flew through the air over a hedge and landed in a field more than 50 yards away. Both were declared dead at the scene.

Pathologist Nicholas Guppy told last week's inquest at Tewkesbury Coroner's Court that there was no apparent medical reason why Mr Smith should have lost control of the car.

Vehicle examiner Brian Griffiths said that there was no evidence of brake failure, or of hard braking prior to the impact.

Robert Cherry, of Bridge Garage, Cropedy, said that Mr Smith had collected the car from him the day before the accident, after he had replaced the gear box and carried out other work, but had done nothing to the brakes.

Announcing his verdict Mr Maddrell said: "There is nothing in the evidence I have heard that stands out as the most likely cause of this double tragedy.