A Selby cyclist killed when he was struck from behind by a van had the bike's rear light in his jacket pocket, an inquest heard.

Mark Garland, 36, of St Leonard's Avenue, Osgodby, was cycling home from work last October at about 6.15am when the accident happened.

Although Mr Garland had a light attached to the front of his bicycle, there was no light at the back.

Accident investigation officer, PC David Foster, told the Selby inquest that he found a red rear light in Mr Garland's jacket pocket at the scene of the accident.

Mr Garland, a security guard, was cycling home from work at English Village Salads, in Camblesforth, when the accident happened under a former railway bridge on the A1041 Bawtry Road.

His pushbike was in collision with a white Mercedes newspaper delivery van, which was also travelling towards Selby.

Witnesses confirmed that the pedal cycle had no rear light.

Edward Thompson, a lorry driver with BOCM-Pauls, said he was driving in the opposite direction when he saw a red light flash under the bridge. He also saw a white van, which was coming across the centre line.

He said he took evasive action by easing over to his left. He then looked in his rear view mirror but saw nothing.

Ian Dobson, driver of the Mercedes van, said it was dark as he went under the bridge. He suddenly saw a shadow, hit the brakes and swerved to avoid it, but clipped the cyclist's back wheel.

PC Foster said a reconstruction of the accident suggested the van driver had moved out to the right to overtake the cyclist, was confronted by the lorry and turned back to the nearside.

He was then presented with the cyclist in front of him and applied the brakes before going into a skid. His van then hit the grass verge and ended up upside down on the other side of the road.

He estimated the speed of the van at between 55mph and 69mph.

Asked by coroner Geoff Fell if he had misjudged the situation as he attempted to overtake the cyclist, Mr Dobson said: "I honestly don't know. I found myself with a lorry there and a shadow there and nowhere to go."

Mr Fell recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Updated: 15:16 Friday, October 11, 2002