A CAPEL Hendre cyclist died after he collided with a parked car outside the village post office.

Keen rider Ken Atkins suffered a heart attack after the incident, which took place at around 10.30am on June 23.

An inquest in Llanelli Town Hall heard that Mr Atkins, who lived at Bro Mebyd, was riding downhill towards the Capel Hendre crossroads when he took a corner too widely and collided with a parked Honda Accord.

The car’s owner, Robert Huw Lewis, who lives in Aberlash Road in Ammanford, said he had parked up with his wife to run in to the post office to buy a newspaper when the collision happened.

“I was just about to get out of the car when there was a smash,” he said.

“We just heard a terrible crunching noise and we didn’t know what it was, we were just sitting in the car and didn’t see anything.”

Dyfed-Powys Police Collision Investigator Mike John told the inquest that the bike was in roadworthy condition and he believed Mr Atkins had taken the corner too widely.

He said: “The collision took place on the wrong side of the road so it looks as if he has taken the corner too widely.”

PC John also dismissed rumours that a cat might have run in front of Mr Atkins.

“We have ample witness statements with no mention of a cat making him change course,” he said.

Deputy Coroner Pauline Mainwaring recorded a verdict of accidental death, saying the impact of the crash had caused Mr Atkins to suffer a heart attack.