A dangerous bend has been blamed for the car crash which claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy.

Philip Tilbury died after his father's car took a right turn out of a driveway and was involved in a collision with another car, Chelmsford Coroners' court was told on Wednesday.

Philip, of The Street, Cressing, was in the back of the car. He suffered head injuries and died the following day at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Essex County Coroner, Dr Malcom Weir, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said neither driver was at fault but visibility on the bend was very poor.

He said: "There was a considerable risk. There is a mirror in the driveway but it is only at certain points that you get a clear view."

Dr Weir said Matthew Grimwood, the driver of the other car, was driving in a perfectly normal manner.

Philip's father David Tilbury, said he often took a left turn out of the driveway when he dropped Philip's friend home but it meant a longer route back, so on this day he had turned right.

He said he had looked both ways before pulling out and had only seen the car when it was about 50 to 75 yards away.

PC Kevin Crosby said visibility for a driver coming past the entrance could have been obscured because of the hedges.

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