A Monmouth woman died after the bicycle she was riding hit a pothole, an inquest heard.

Coroner David Bowen recorded a verdict of accidental death last Thursday (19th September) after hearing that 72-year-old Valerie Cadogan fell from her bike on St Mary's Road in Osbaston on 24th April, sustaining serious head injuries.

Ms Cadogan was flown by air ambulance to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol but died the following day having never regained consciousness.

Monmouthshire County Council attended St Mary's Road to repair the pothole.

Ms Cadogan, originally from Welwyn Garden City, left home in the Osbaston in early afternoon on 24th April with her husband, David Raine.

The pair, described as 'physically fit' by Mr Bowen, were on their way to do some shopping in town, both cycling. The coroner's court heard how Ms Cadogan was riding in front of her husband when she hit the 25cm-wide pothole, which measured 11cm at its deepest point. The bike's front wheel caught in the hole, turning the handlebars sharply to the right and Ms Cadogan was thrown over the handle bars. She was not wearing a crash helmet.

"As soon as I picked the bike up, I could see that there was a concave in the road," said Mr Raine. "Unfortunately there are a lot on that section of road, but having said that we have ridden along there many times."

An examination of Ms Cadogan's bike revealed that it had no defects and the vehicle had been "well maintained".

Mark Watkins, Monmouthshire County Council's area maintenance engineer, gave evidence at the inquest.

He told the coroner this particular road is inspected once every 12 months, and was last worked on in June 2012. He said no recorded reports of problems had been made to the council by police or members of the public since then.

Ms Cadogan had been an English teacher at the Royal Forest of Dean College for 17 years and was described by her husband as "an amazing woman." The couple had two sons, Timothy and Matthew, who were both present at the inquest.

"I would like to say thank you to the police for their reaction and the way they handled things," said Mr Raine. "Everybody who came to help was excellent".

Mr Raine also praised the quick reaction of the First Responder and Ambulance crews.

Concluding the inquest, Coroner Mr Bowen said: "Perhaps a matter of concern is that she wasn't wearing a crash helmet.

"Perhaps if she had, things would have been a little different. All cyclists should wear them," he said.