An ambulance driver involved in a deadly crash with a motorcyclist was a skilled paramedic, caught up in a nightmare, a court heard yesterday.

Motorcyclist Neil Griffiths from St Ives in Cambridgeshire was killed on the A146 by Hales on July 9 last year when he collided with an ambulance.

The ambulance, driven by Ivor Prow, was turning into Green Lane when the accident happened.

Jonathan Goodman, defending, said: 'He is just an honest, diligent, skilled paramedic caught up in a nightmare.'

Mr Goodman said Prow, who has denied a charge of death by carless driving, only saw two cars coming towards him and no motorcycle.

He argued Mr Griffiths might have had time to stop and told the jury at Norwich Crown Court how the white motorcycle had speeded up to overtake two cars, which had slowed down, seconds before the accident.

Summing up the case yesterday, he said: 'It is a tragedy - that doesn't make it a criminal offence.'

But Christopher Youell, prosecuting, said Prow of Gorleston Road, Oulton Broad had not look properly when turning into the junction.

Mr Youell said Prow, 52, had 'failed in his duty' to make sure the road was clear when responding to the report of a woman suffering from a stroke.

He dismissed suggestions that Mr Griffiths' riding could be questioned.

He said: 'We are not here to try Mr Griffiths. He was the most vulnerable person on that road on that day.'

The trial continues.