A TRAVELLER involved in a fatal accident when a motorbike crashed into his horse and cart in North Yorkshire has admitted endangering fellow road users and been told he faces prison.

Warwick Romans, 65, was riding his horse and cart on the A162 Sherburn-in-Elmet bypass when the crash occurred.

The motorcyclist, David Gates, 29, was killed when his Suzuki 750cc burst into flames and melted. The wooden cart disintegrated, but Romans survived when his horse bolted and pulled him clear of the wreckage.

At York Crown Court yesterday, Romans, of New Lane, Sherburn-in-Elmet, pleaded guilty to causing a danger to road users by causing an obstruction to the road.

An inquest last year heard Romans's cart had no lights on when the accident happened, at about 9.30pm on a bank holiday Monday in May 2004.

Traffic Constable David Foster of North Yorkshire Police said it would have been dark by 9.20pm, while two witnesses said the horse and cart had suddenly appeared in front of them in the darkness, forcing one to swerve violently. Both said it was "an accident waiting to happen".

In 2004, Romans told the Evening Press how he was saved by his horse bolting.

He said then: "I managed to escape because the cart disintegrated on impact and I managed to keep hold of the reins.

"By keeping hold of the horse, it threw me clear of the cart and I ended up on the road with the shafts.

"I then had to let go of the reins and the horse went across the road between passing cars and into a nearby field, with the shafts still coupled to him."

Mr Romans, a self-employed wagon driver, said he had been to Church Fenton in the afternoon. After giving a couple of people a ride on the cart, he headed home. He said a friend, Malcolm Jenkinson, had been walking behind the cart to warn motorists of its presence.

Mr Gates, of Castleford, was going to work at Exel logistics in Sherburn-in-Elmet when the crash occurred.

Witnesses, including off-duty Traffic Constable Iain Atkinson, estimated he was travelling at about 80mph.

Yesterday's case was adjourned for a pre-sentence review.

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman said: "The defendant should take no comfort from the fact I have ordered a pre-sentence review. He is looking at custody."

Updated: 09:59 Thursday, April 20, 2006