Police have been cleared of any blame over the death of a former soldier in a high-speed car crash.

John Wilford, 21, died and five passengers were seriously injured when the Suzuki car he was driving went out of control in Great Horton Road, Bradford, last September. The car had earlier been followed by a police patrol, who backed off when it sped away at up to 70 mph and went through a set of traffic lights at red, Bradford Coroner's Court was told.

Mr Wilford was killed instantly after the car mounted the kerb, demolished some railings and smashed into the wall of a solicitor's office. A post mortem examination showed that he suffered a fractured skull and a brain injury.

All the passengers were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be freed from the wreckage by firefighters.

Recording an accident verdict on Mr Wilford, of Kirkgate, Bradford, Coroner Roger Whittaker told the two police officers who had followed the Suzuki: "You should not reproach yourself in any way at all. You were only doing your duty and you were doing it, in my view, perfectly properly."

He said their course of action was "in accordance with a recognised and proper procedure".

Passenger Jessica Bowers admitted she was "horrified" by the way the car was driven before the tragedy. She described how Mr Wilford reached speeds of up to 70 mph after he hit the back of a car and panicked. "We were asking him to slow down," she said. "He just carried on driving."

PC Anthony Knox was on duty in a Vauxhall Astra with his colleague PC Julie Ord when the Suzuki was involved in a minor bump with a car in Chester Street, near to the Blob Shop.

He told the hearing that he believed the driver was going to leave the scene when he saw him move backwards and pull out.

PC Knox then drove behind the Suzuki which went on to Great Horton Road before stopping on a left hand bend.

"Moments later, the Suzuki moved backwards and was in collision with my vehicle," he said.

He added: "I began to follow. As I did so, it was clear to me that it was accelerating away and did not intend to stop."

Mr Whittaker said the combination of alcohol and the valium, the defect in the rear tyre and the speed of the car were all contributory factors in the case.

"I don't need to tell the family how foolish John had been. They will be aware of that. I have no wish to compound their grief at this dreadful tragedy for them."

But he added it was important for motorists to realise that driving with a combination of alcohol and valium was a "dangerous procedure".