A man died when he was crushed under the converted Range Rover he had been driving on a country lane, an inquest heard.

Steven Bennett suffered multiple injuries in the crash, near Ab Kettleby, north of Melton.

He was crushed after being thrown from the vehicle before it rolled on to him.

The 40-year-old, from Ironstone Lane, Holwell, had been driving the modified 1973-registered, open-roof vehicle when he lost control of it.

An inquest held at Loughborough Coroners' Court yesterday heard the Dakar vehicle he had been driving had been stripped down and rebuilt like a kit car.

Accident investigator, Pc Adrian Keeble, said he had examined the car after the fatal crash, which happened on February 24, and he described it as unstable.

He found hub seals on the front brakes had been weeping, contaminating the brake pads.

He said this caused the front wheels to continue rotating when the brake was pressed.

Pc Keeble also said, during the Dakar's conversion, the original brakes had been kept, but the weight on the rear axle was reduced, which made the rear wheels lock, causing the back of the vehicle to "kick out".

He said: "The failure of the deceased to wear a seatbelt was also significant.

"The deceased, who was unrestrained, was ejected from the vehicle and he became airborne. The car rolled on to him."

Pc Keeble said there was not enough evidence to say how fast Mr Bennett was driving before the crash, but there was nothing to suggest he was going above the 60mph speed limit.

Marcus Munton, of Barrow, was a passenger in the Dakar.

He said, after about a quarter of a mile, the bonnet of the Dakar started to vibrate on the right-hand side.

He said he heard a sudden thud and Mr Bennett swear, but then could only remember climbing out of the car.

He told the court Mr Bennett would not have taken the vehicle out to drive if he had thought there was any fault with it.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Hull recorded a verdict of accidental death.