A rally co-driver yesterday relived the final seconds of a high-speed crash which claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy.

Brian Delph was navigating car number 67, which skidded into a crowd of spectators during the Cheviot Rally, in Otterburn, Northumberland, on February 13 last year.

An inquest into the death of Marc Taylor heard yesterday that the Vauxhall Nova went into a sideways skid before crashing through a gate and rolling up an earth mound which rally fans had been using as a vantage point.

Marc, of Ennerdale Gardens, Winlaton, Gateshead was at the rally to cheer on his father, Neil, who had driven past shortly before the crash.

The boy's eight-year-old cousin, Christopher Hymers, his uncle, Ian Hymers, and grandfather, also Ian Hymers, were all injured in the accident.

At Tynedale Coroner's Court, in Hexham, Northumberland, Mr Delph described the scene of devastation just moments after the crash.

He said: "I looked round and saw what I can only describe as carnage - people lying, people screaming. Most of it was just in a daze. I don't know whether it was disbelief.

"I walked round the car and saw what I later found out to be Marc at the back of the car. He was obviously very, very badly injured.

"I saw Christopher lying two or three yards behind him. I remember shouting 'Is he breathing?' After that, it is all a blur."

Mr Delph had been reading race notes and only looked up as the Nova, driven by Alyn Stockton, of Ouston, County Durham, slid out of control.

He said: "It (the car) just went so quick. There wasn't a lot that could be done. The car went sideways on to the grass, back on to the Tarmac, then on to the grass.

"I saw the people standing and I just thought this was going to hurt people. There was a massive crash as we went through the gate. I thought the car had rolled two or three times."

Spectator Christopher Waters told the inquest that moments earlier he had urged a race marshal to move spectators off the earth mound.

He said: "I just remember getting the feeling something was going to happen."

Mr Waters, of Concord, Washington, Wearside, broke down as he described the scene.

"I just saw people hurt," he said. "I tried to see if I could help, myself, but people were there. I just looked to see if they were safe and then started crying."

The hearing continues.