A man riding a mini-moto across a Wisbech recreation ground was killed when he hit a metal railing running across the park, an inquest heard.

Coroner William Morris told a hearing at Wisbech's Boathouse that Michael Bailey probably did not notice the railing which ran across Parson Drove Recreation Playing Field until it was too late.

The 20-year-old, of John Bends Way, Parsons Drove, had been driving his green AMX 125cc pitbike vehicle across the park when the accident happened at about 2pm on September 22.

Paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service and the East Anglian Air Ambulance made 'valiant attempts' to save him, Mr Morris said – but to no avail.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the crash left Mr Bailey with a severe neck injury which meant he was declared dead at the scene.

PC Peter Bimson, a senior collision investigator at Cambridgeshire Police, said officers had tried to reconstruct Mr Bailey's route by retracing tyre marks left in the ground.

They found that the low height of the vehicle meant it would have been difficult for Mr Bailey to spot the railing amongst other parts of the park.

'I suspect if he was aware of it, he may have become aware of it late – before he was able to do anything about it,' he said.

However, he stressed that it was technically illegal for Mr Bailey to be riding his vehicle in the area.

The railings had been designed to separate spectators from the sports field at the recreation ground.

A vehicle examiner also found that although the front brake was working well, the rear brake was ineffective and that the back wheel could still be pushed around even when the brake was fully applied.

Mr Morris recorded a conclusion of accidental death.