A BIKER was travelling at least 67mph when he lost control and suffered a fatal crash, a coroner heard yesterday.

Lawrence William Harvey, 42, a dad of six from Trinant, died on August 27 after a motorbike accident two days before in Croespenmaen.

Mr Harvey carried a donor card and both his kidneys were used to help save other lives after his death.

Yesterday an inquest in Newport heard how the experienced motorcyclist had bought the new bike only five weeks before.

His mother, Moira Harvey told the coroner's court: "He was very proud of it."

Mr Harvey had been a member of the Arrowheads motorbike group, which meets in Hafodyrynys, for about three months before his death. The club's vice-president paid tribute to Mr Harvey describing him as "a really nice chap and easy to get along with."

Gwent coroner David Bowen said of Mr Harvey's new Honda bike: "It was a very powerful machine and he was probably not totally familiar with its performance."

Brace's Bread lorry driver Michael Snell, a witness to the accident , described how Mr Harvey appeared to lose control as he overtook a car as he approached a bend.

He said: "The next thing I saw was the motorcyclist rolling over in the road and heading towards the footpath."

PC Keith Rich, of Gwent Police's forensic collision investigation unit also gave evidence describing the scuffs, scrapes, tyre and gouge marks on the road from where the bike bounced along the ground.

He said he believed the rider's speed before the crash must have been at least 67mph on the single carriageway road which carries a 40mph limit. Mr Bowen said: "Mr Harvey was an experienced motorcyclist who I am sure normally took no risks whatsoever.

"I am satisfied Mr Harvey was normally a safe and competent driver and did not forsee the consequences of his actions." He recorded a verdict of accidental death.