A 25-year-old man took a "substantial'' amount of heroin before his van ploughed into a parked vehicle and caught fire, an inquest was told.

James Walker was killed when the Seat Terra he was driving smashed into the back of a Mitsubishi Pajero in Station Road, Harecroft, near Cullingworth.

Bradford Coroner's Court heard how the Seat was destroyed in the blaze which followed the accident at 3am on September 5 last year.

When a post-mortem examination was carried out, tests showed that Mr Walker, of Parkside Terrace, Culling-worth, died from burns.

Dr Nicholas Griffin, a consultant histopathlogist, told the hearing he believed that Mr Walker - who was known to suffer from epilepsy - had fallen unconscious when the fire started.

It was revealed that the amount of heroin Mr Walker had taken was associated with fatal doses in other cases.

The inquest was told that Mr Walker had left his home to buy something at a petrol station before the crash.

Wholesale greengrocer David Singleton was taking his dogs for a walk when he saw a van being driven between 60mph and 70mph along the main road through the village.

He described how a few moments later he spotted another vehicle travelling even faster in the same direction.

Mr Singleton said he thought that the driver in the second vehicle was trying to catch up with the van. He then heard an "almighty'' bang.

Malcolm Barker was at his home in Station Road when he was woken up by his wife who believed their parked Mitsubishi was on fire.

He told the inquest that he went outside, but could not get near the burning vehicle because of the intense heat.

It was only when he looked down the road that he noticed the Mitsubishi had been shunted 20 yards.

Fire investigation officer David Gardiner said that the severe fire, which started in the engine before spreading to the passenger compartment, was caused by the collision with the Mitsubishi.

Recording an verdict of accidental death, Coroner Roger Whittaker said he could only conclude that Mr Walker drove into the back of the parked vehicle "while under the influence of heroin''.