James Bond star Desmond Llewelyn was fatally injured in a car crash after making an error of judgement, an inquest heard.

The 85-year-old actor from Bexhill was returning from his native Wales to attend a book signing at Alfriston when his car collided head-on with another vehicle travelling on the A27 near Firle.

An Eastbourne inquest heard how Mr Llewelyn, world famous for his portrayal of gadget man Q in 17 Bond films, crashed his Renault Megane while attempting to overtake another car.

Pathologist Christopher Moffatt said the actor suffered multiple injuries, including two broken arms, a broken leg and neck, and a severe head injury.

Mr Moffatt said Mr Llewelyn would have been paralysed from the neck down had he survived the December 19 crash.

Mr Llewelyn died at Eastbourne District General Hospital after being airlifted from the accident scene by police helicopter.

Mr Moffatt said it was "extremely unlikely" that the crash had been triggered by a heart attack despite Mr Llewelyn having a severe heart condition.

In a statement, Rhys Morgan, driver of the Fiat Brava that collided with the Renault, told how had tried to avoid Mr Llewelyn's car, which was on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Morgan, from Stuttgart, said he and his partner Claudia Zetzche had been travelling to Heathrow when the accident occurred.

He said: "I put on the brakes and the next thing I remember is waking up in the car and the fire brigade cutting me out."

Mr Morgan, who had been visiting relatives in Eastbourne, suffered a broken hip, broken leg and a punctured lung.

Miss Zetzche said: "It seemed to me that the driver was trying to get back on to the other side of the road but he couldn't because the other car would not make way.

"I shut my eyes because I knew we were going to crash. It felt like my chest had been hit with a hammer."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Sussex coroner Alan Craze said Mr Llewelyn was solely to blame for the crash - "when the overtaking manoeuvre took place it was at a time that was not appropriate."

Mr Llewelyn's sons Justin and Ivor attended the inquest.

After the hearing, Justin, 52, said: "We are glad it is all over and we can draw a line under all this."

Mr Llewelyn, who lives opposite his father's former home in High Street, Bexhill, said the family had been inundated with thousands of letters and cards of condolence since the death, including messages from all five of the 007 actors, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby and Sean Connery.