A biker who was killed along with his pillion passenger in a 60mph seafront crash was double the drink-drive limit.

Motorbike rider Daniel Easom, of Ravenswood Road, Croydon, had alcohol, cocaine and cannabis in his blood after the horrific accident.

The collision in Kingsway, Hove - which has a 30mph speed limit - was so severe that Mr Easom, 25, and his passenger Katie Orgles, also 25, had no chance of survival, an inquest was told.

The hearing at Brighton County Court heard that Miss Orgles was not wearing a crash helmet at the time of the incident, which happened just after 1am on Tuesday June 29.

Dr Karen Henderson, assistant deputy coroner for Brighton and Hove, said the mother-of-one's injuries were some of the worst she had ever seen.

Miss Orgles, of Radbone Close, Worthing, had spent the previous day, Monday June 28, with her friend Michael Wood.

At about 10pm Mr Wood heard her tell Mr Easom in a phone call that he was an "idiot" for riding his motorbike while drunk.

Mr Wood said Miss Orgles had not been drinking and told him she was going to Brighton with Mr Easom to see his friend's boat and that he had gone to get her a crash helmet.

Mr Wood told Miss Orgles: "You are mad if you are getting on the back of that bike, don't bother."

When Mr Easom returned without a crash helmet Mr Wood said Miss Orgles went back into her home to retrieve an old-style orange crash helmet and a bottle of vodka.

Christopher Field was driving east towards Brighton when the bike sped past him at Southwick, the inquest was told.

When he reached the King Alfred Leisure Centre a member of the public flagged him down and said there had been an accident.

Debris from the bike was spread over a stretch of between 50 to 100 yards.

The first aider pulled over and immediately realised Miss Orgles was dead.

Mr Easom's breathing was laboured and he died shortly afterwards.

PC Mark Hill said he believed Mr Easom had been travelling in excess of 60mph.

He said that although he had applied emergency braking after hitting a kerb he had lost control of the bike, hitting the traffic island so the bike reared up, throwing Mr Easom and Miss Orgles off.

A post mortem examination showed that Mr Easom died as a result of a broken spine and extensive blood loss as well as other injuries.

He had 168mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, cocaine, which showed low to moderate use, and cannabis in his blood, which would have severely impaired his judgement and ability to drive, the inquest was told.

Miss Orgles was also slightly over the drink drive limit and a bottle of vodka was found near her body. She had extensive head and internal injuries.

Dr Henderson recorded a verdict of accidental death on both Mr Easom and Miss Orgles and said she was absolutely convinced the bike had been travelling at great speed.

She said: "It is the folly of youth to think you are immortal and that is sadly not the case here."