by Keyan Milanian

An inquest has heard how three motorcyclists who died while on a European tour in Italy were driving on the wrong side of the road.

Wendy Pointer, 60, from John Street, Rochester, Colin Morrish, 62, from High Street, Rochester, and Michael Vercoe, 67, from Hever Avenue, West Kingsdown, died when the two bikes the three were travelling on were in collision with a lorry.

Mr Vercoe's wife, Fay, who was riding pillion with her husband, was seriously injured in the crash in Trento and spoke as a witness.

Mrs Vercoe said the bikers, a group from the Motorcycle Touring Club Europe, were heading back to their hotel after riding for most of the day and were in no rush to get back to their hotel.

The inquest heard that Mr Morrish, who was leading a group of motorcyclists, pulled into a lane on the opposite side of the road to overtake a car and Mr Vercoe had followed on his bike.

But as the two motorcycles made the manoeuvre a lorry travelling in the opposite direction came round a bend and hit the two motorcycles head on.

The coroner, Roger Sykes offered his "deepest condolences" and said each of the three deaths was as a result of multiple injuries and each death was accidental.