A HAMPSHIRE man was killed when a drink-driver crashed into his car in a head-on collision, an inquest has heard.

Arthur Bradley, 86, was on the way to see his son when he died in a collision between two cars in Milford on Sea in April last year.

Southampton coroner's court heard how James Furnell had been on the wrong side of the road as he tried to overtake another vehicle while going round a tight bend on Cliff Road between New Milton and Milford on Sea.

Mr Bradley, who lived in Holly Gardens in Milford on Sea, died at the scene of the crash at about 6pm on Sunday, April 9, 2006.

Furnell pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted at Southampton Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving in June last year.

He was found to be over the legal drink-driving limit as he was behind the wheel of his Toyota Carina when it collided head-on with Mr Bradley's Ford Fiesta.

The inquest heard how Furnell, from Lymington had drunk five pints of alcohol while watching a football match with friends, during the afternoon before the crash.

Furnell had driven from Shorefields holiday park and was travelling towards New Milton on Cliff Road when he overtook three cars before colliding with Mr Bradley's vehicle on a tight bend as he was entering a 30mph limit.

Crash investigator Stanley Gibbs told the court how evidence from the scene of the crash had shown that Furnell was driving between 56 and 59mph, and was on the wrong side of the road as he tried to overtake a vehicle.

"This was a deliberate accident and not just a driver error," he said.

Furnell, who was 28 at the time of the incident, suffered head injuries in the crash and the court heard how a blood sample was taken as he was being treated for his injuries, which showed he was over the legal limit for driving at the time of the collision.

"He had consumed five pints of alcohol although it is not clear whether this was shandy or regular ale," Mr Gibbs told the court.

The court heard how Furnell had been jailed on June 12 last year at Southampton Crown Court for four and half years for causing death by dangerous driving.

Deputy coroner Gordon Denson read out the conclusions of a post mortem report that revealed Mr Bradley died at the scene from chest injuries sustained in the crash.

"It is the consequence of another drunken driver's foolish and stupid actions," he said.

"It is with great sadness that I record that Mr Bradley's death in the collision on Cliff Road was due to his chest injuries and I record a verdict he was unlawfully killed in a traffic incident."