Driver died sitting in car blaze

A driver burnt to death after refusing to leave her vehicle when it was set alight following a crash, an inquest was told.

Serena Sutton-Smith, 54, who suffered bipolar disorder, was said to have become enraged after crashing on the B4632 in the Cotswolds on 30 April.

Witnesses said she sat tight in her burning Vauxhall Nova, even though people were urging her to get out.

Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The hearing was told that Ms Sutton-Smith had narrowly avoided hitting Paula Small's Fiat Punto on the road between Weston-sub-Edge and Mickleton before deciding to ram it.

She then put her foot on the accelerator and left it there, causing the tyres to disintegrate and sparks to fly into the brake fluid.