A motorcyclist who devoted his life to caring for others died when his Yamaha crashed into a tractor, a court heard.

Mark Lamming, from Perranporth in Cornwall, was riding his bike along the B3284 from Truro towards Chybucca when he collided with a tractor towing a muck-spreader as it pulled out of a field.

Eye-witnesses to the crash, in Allet on November 17 last year, said they thought Mr Lamming, 26, had reached "unbelievable speeds" moments before the incident. However, a police collision expert said Mr Lamming was unlikely to have been much above the 60mph speed limit before braking.

Evidence at Mr Lamming's inquest, held in Truro, revealed traces of cannabis in his blood. However, MPC Mark Lackey said Mr Lamming's reaction speed upon seeing the tractor meant the drug was unlikely to have had any influence on the crash.

The court heard how Mr Lamming had been "driving sensibly" along the B3284 approaching Allet at 2.20pm. However, after overtaking Anthony Pearce's Citroen, Mr Lamming was said to have increased his speed dramatically.

Moments earlier, farmer Peter Keast had slowly begun to edge out of a field onto the B3284 in his tractor.

He told the court: "I was half way across the road when I noticed a bike coming towards me. I think the driver panicked a bit because I saw black smoke. Before I could get out of his way, he had hit my muck spreader."

Cornwall coroner Dr Emma Carlyon recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Lamming's family described him as "a careful driver" who "excelled in people skills", and enjoyed working with children and adults with autism.