An inquest at Shropshire Coroner's Court has heard how Barry Panter, the 75-year-old mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was killed in a collision with a tractor after apparently being blinded by its bright headlights. Mr Panter was driving to a council meeting on 13 February last year when his Suzuki Splash was struck by the farm vehicle, which was towing a muck spreader, in Woore, Shropshire. He was taken to hospital but died two days later, on 16 February.

The court heard that Mr Panter had been negotiating a bend when the rear of the muck spreader hit his car, with the tractor said to have been travelling at just 18mph. The driver, Christopher Bedson, reportedly did not stop initially, believing the bump to be a pothole, before later returning to the scene; he told police he had used only the tractor's main road lights, either on full beam or dipped. A witness, Keri Lovatt, described seeing a tractor with "very bright lights" and later finding Mr Panter's car at a 90-degree angle in the road, with the mayor repeatedly saying "bright light, bright light" and complaining of head pain. Detective Constable Ben Ward of West Mercia Police's serious collision investigation unit also gave evidence at the hearing in Shrewsbury.