A motorcyclist who died after a road accident in a residential street could have been travelling at twice the speed limit, an inquest heard.

Howard Murrell, 36, of Bernard Gardens, Wimbledon, suffered multiple injuries after a collision with a van on the Wimbledon Parkside junction with Somerset Road in the early hours of February 24.

He later died at St George's Hospital. Westminster Coroner's Court heard that Mr Murrell, a catering manager who owned a concession at Ealing Broadway station, had been travelling north when he collided with a van as it turned right out of Somerset Road.

Ambulance crews later found Mr Murrell trapped underneath the van.

An investigation of the scratch and skid marks on the road indicated that Mr Murrell's speed must have been at least 41 miles per hour but PC Stuart David concluded that he was probably travelling between 50 and 60 miles per hour.

Although road works and the length of his own vehicle also partially obstructed the van driver's view to the left, the court heard that a lower speed would have allowed Mr Murrell to brake in time.

The coroner, Dr Shirley Radcliffe, gave the conclusion of a traumatic road death.

She said: "It's always so tragic with motorbike accidents because people driving them are invariably young. It's a huge loss to his family. I'd like to offer condolences to his family for what must have been a very traumatic event."