Police feared for their safety as youths hurled abuse at them after a 20-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in a road crash, an inquest heard.

Mohammed Ullah was driving a Ford Escort car when it swerved and lost control along Little Horton Lane, Bradford, on August 21 last year.

It then turned into Giles Street and mounted a kerb before demolishing part of a wall and ending up on its roof.

Bradford Coroner's Court heard two police officers in an unmarked Vauxhall Vectra arrived at the scene within seconds. But after they did, a large crowd gathered and started to threaten them.

Sargeant Simon Beldon described the group as "extremely volatile" and felt that he and his colleague were in "serious danger of being hurt".

They had earlier been following the Ford Escort because they wanted to speak to Mr Ullah about his driving.

Attempts were made to stop the Escort but when those failed they asked for a traffic unit to help them. PC Trevor Bartle heard the message and arrived about five minutes after the collision.

He said he did not believe the Vectra was directly involved in the lunchtime incident and ordered the car to be moved after he heard some people within the group talk about setting it on fire.

PC Bartle added: "The vehicle was rocked from side to side by members of the public. One individual shouted in my face: 'Let's riot, let's riot'."

He said people were visibly upset when they formed the opinion that the Vectra had caused the Escort to lose control.

The passenger was arrested as he tried to escape while Mr Ullah was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary. As he was being treated there, Mr Ullah was found to have quantities of heroin and crack cocaine in a trousers pocket .

He died four days later from bruising to the lungs.

Sgt Beldon told the inquest he was the driver of the Vectra when he first saw the Escort at a junction. He began to follow it when it overtook another vehicle and appeared to skid. Sgt Beldon flashed his headlights but it became apparent that Mr Ullah was not going to stop.

Sgt Beldon described how the Escort began to pull away from his car, reaching speeds of 60 mph. The car then went back on to Little Horton Lane when it appeared to turn right and overturn.

Recording an accident verdict on Mr Ullah, of Little Horton Lane, Bradford, coroner Roger Whittaker said the Escort had been driven in a dangerous manner "beyond belief".

Mr Whittaker added Sgt Beldon had acted "perfectly properly" and should not reproach himself in any way.