AN elderly couple died in a North York Moors road crash after the man was taken ill at the wheel of his car and crashed into a van, an inquest at Scarborough was told.

Verdicts of accidental death were recorded on Frederick Wootton, 79, a retired diesel fitter, and his wife, Lilian, 76, a retired book-keeper, of Runcorn Avenue, Stockton, Teesside, who were killed when their car careered out of control near the village of Hawnby last November.

Dr Alan Jackson, consultant pathologist at Scarborough General Hospital, said Mr Wootton had died from chest injuries, while Mrs Wootton had died from multiple injuries.

Their family told the North Yorkshire East Coroner, Mich-ael Oakley, that Mr Wootton was a good driver and knew the road well.

Traffic Constable Timothy Alderson said Mr and Mrs Wootton were travelling towards Helmsley when their car went off the road at a right- hand bend and collided with a Ford Transit van parked off the road.

"Mr Wootton was not braking when the crash happened," said TC Alderson. He believed Mr Wootton had been suffering from a medical condition at the time and he had not taken any action to avoid the crash.

David Monahan, a builder of communication cable boxes, said he was working on the roadside when he heard the car coming, and there was a loud explosion as it collided with his van.