A HIGH-speed race is said to have caused the death of a motorcyclist on the A449, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

Vincent Hamlyn of Sedbury Lane, Tutshill is on trial for causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal collision with Cwmbran motorcyclist Kevin Morgan at the Coldra roundabout.

33-year-old anaesthetist Hamlyn was driving a BMW Z4 while Mr Morgan was driving a Kawasaki Ninja 300.

Both the defendant and victim were driving 20mph in excess of the speed limit and were said to have been "jostling for pole position and trying to outpace each other," explained prosecution barrister Matthew Roberts, before the collision took place.

Mr Morgan, 60, died at the scene after sustaining "catastrophic head injuries," concluded the post mortem.

The deceased was on a bike ride with friend Gregory Sweeting at the time, and had planned to travel to mid-Wales.

According to Mr Sweeting, the pair reached the Coldra roundabout and were waiting at a set of traffic lights.

Mr Sweeting was positioned behind Hamlyn in the left hand lane, with Mr Morgan positioned adjacent to Hamlyn to the right.

As the lights turned green, Mr Sweeting said he saw Mr Morgan leave first then heard the engine of the BMW "roar". Mr Sweeting said Hamlyn "gunned it" which took Mr Sweeting by surprise.

Mr Sweeting followed behind along the A449 but lost sight of the pair as the road bent to the right. He then heard a loud bang but wasn't witness to the point of impact.

He saw Mr Morgan's helmut, glove and bike slide across the road. Mr Morgan was found lying on his left side and attempts to save him were futile.

Mr Roberts said: "The defendant was in part a cause of the collision.

"The crash was, sadly, entirely avoidable."

The trial is expected to continue through to next week, keep an eye on the Beacon for updates.