Two Bradford men were killed when the car they were travelling in was involved in a high-speed smash, an inquest heard.

The Ford Orion driven by 34-year-old Clive Sunderland went out of control, mounted a kerb and hit a tree before bouncing into a parked car.

Mr Sunderland, of Silverhill Drive, Bradford Moor, and front-seat passenger Christopher Tattersall, 25, of Saffron Drive, Allerton, both died at the scene. A second passenger, Richard Brockhill, escaped with minor injuries.

A post-mortem examination showed that Mr Sunderland had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit to drive.

Bradford Coroner's Court heard how all three men were travelling along Queens Road one night last November when the tragedy took place.

Mr Brockhill told the hearing: "The accident was so fast. You could read what was going to happen."

He said he did not know whether the driver lost control or had a blow-out. He added: "I looked out of the window. The car was going diagonally. I just saw this tree coming so quick."

Mr Brockhill said that when he crawled out of the car and found Mr Sunderland and Mr Tattersall, he realised both had already died.

Accident Investigator Robert Crispin estimated that the Orion had been travelling at about 60mph before the crash.

Recording accident verdicts, Coroner Roger Whittaker said the factors which contributed to the incident were "the very high speed and the alcohol consumed by the driver".

At the time of the collision fire crews likened the carnage to a scene from a battlefield, with wheels and debris scattered over the road.

A resident living near the crash said one of the victims had whimpered 'get us out, please' and added he had seen the victims' bodies being carried from the car.

Rescue teams from Bradford and Idle fire stations had to use hydraulic cutting equipment to free the men from the Ford Orion while a third man was receiving roadside treatment from paramedics.