A coroner is to write to Leicester City Council to urge it to take action after an off-road biker died when he crashed into a hidden concrete culvert on a recreation ground.

Assistant deputy coroner Lydia Brown is to suggest warning signs and fencing at Netherhall Recreation Ground, following the death of Giuseppe Menga.

An inquest, in Leicester, yesterday heard Mr Menga, 23, died while test driving an off-road Suzuki bike he had seen advertised for sale on eBay.

Ryan Fagan, who was selling the bike, told the inquest Mr Menga had driven over from his home in Radcliffe, Manchester, on June 6 last year to view it.

Mr Fagan, who lives 200 yards from the recreation ground, in Netherhall Road, said he rode the bike to the park and then gave it to Mr Menga to try.

Speaking of the moment he realised Mr Menga was heading towards the concrete culvert, which is set into the ground and hidden from view, Mr Fagan said: "I just froze.

"I realised what was happening but it was too late. There was nothing I could do."

The bike hit the culvert and Mr Menga was thrown nearly 26 metres.

Pathologist Michael Biggs said the cause of Mr Menga's death was a severe head injury. He said he would have been unconscious immediately.

The inquest heard Mr Menga was not wearing a helmet. But Mr Biggs said: "I am not sure there would have been any different outcome even if Mr Menga had been wearing a helmet or any other safety gear."

Pc Michael Hinton, of Leicestershire police's forensic investigation team, said tests showed Mr Menga was going between 33mph and 38mph when he hit the 7ft-wide culvert.

He said the field at the recreation ground drops away five metres and the culvert is not visible from the point where Mr Menga started his test drive.

Pc Hinton said that by the time Mr Menga saw the culvert, he would not have had time to do anything.

He said it appeared Mr Menga was a very capable rider, and was riding in a proper fashion. He said there were no defects on the bike which might have caused the crash.

Coroner Lydia Brown recorded a verdict of accidental death.

She said: "I will be suggesting to the owners (Leicester City Council) that there needs to be considerable improvement regarding signage and fencing to avoid a repeat of such a tragedy."

After the inquest, Mr Menga's mother, Amanda Podmore, and her two daughters visited the site of her son's death for the first time.

Miss Podmore said: "This culvert is totally hidden from view and is a death trap.

"I hope the intervention of the coroner will make the powers that be take notice. That way, perhaps, Giuseppe might not have died in vain.

"We do not want any other family to suffer in this way.

"Giuseppe was a wonderful son and is missed by everyone, especially his three-year-old son Giuseppe Junior."