A CORONER is set to write to motorcycling chiefs with a safety recommendation in the wake of an Otley rider's death following an East Lancashire race.

Recruitment consultant Carl Hughes fell from his bike and was run over by a fellow competitor during a novice event at Catterall's Farm in Clayton-le-Dale on August 2 this year, a inquest at Clitheroe was told.

And while Blackburn Coroner Michael Singleton was satisfied with the health and safety provisions at the Ribchester Road meeting, he was concerned that chest protectors were not mandatory under Moto Cross Federation (MCF) rules, a court heard.

Mr Hughes had been wearing boots, gloves, goggles and a padded t-shirt when he came off his KTM 450 bike after the first corner.

But the 32-year-old, who had previously suffered from deep vein thrombosis, was immobilised after fracturing four bones in his back and died days later in hospital of a massive pulmonary embolism in hospital, the inquest was told.

Fellow rider Shaun Jones, who was behind Mr Hughes at the start of the race, said he saw a Kawasaki bike ahead of him 'bobble', as if he had struck something on the track.

"He has ended up on the floor and Carl got on up on all fours. To me it felt like he had hit something on the track," said Mr Jones.

Paramedic Blake Regan, who works for private contractor EMS, said that initially the hurt rider maintained he didn't need medical attention - but did complain of breathing difficulties. He also refused to be placed on a spinal board.

"If he had sustained an obvious spinal injury I would not have expected him to be so mobile," added Mr Regan, who later handed over care of the patient to an air ambulance crew.

Mr Hughes, of Victoria Court, Station Road, was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital, where it was later discovered he had broken the bones T5, T6, T7 and T8 in his back, the court heard, and it was expected he would be later fitted with a brace to recuperate.

But Mr Hughes suffered a major blood clot in his lungs, within four days of the crash, despite an initial positive prognosis.

After being informed of his death on August 6, Roy Austin, who was his consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said: "I found this news to be personally very shocking and distressing."

An investigation by Ribble Valley Council's environmental health department found no safety concerns, the court heard, and Wayne Rowe, the clerk to the course and chairman of organisers Newton-le-Willows Moto Cross Club, said the design of the track had not been altered from previous meetings, in which both named riders had competed.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Mr Singleton said he would write to the MCF, to ask if it would consider making chest protectors mandatory equipment in future.