A CAR involved in a fatal crash in Purbeck came to a "sudden and abrupt halt" in a field after leaving the road, an inquest heard.

Samuel James Christopher, 25, died following the single-vehicle incident on the Langton road near Kingston on the evening of Saturday, July 24.

Assistant coroner for Dorset Brendan Allen opened an inquest into Mr Christopher's death at Bournemouth Town Hall on Tuesday, August 3.

Coroner's officer Ken McEwan told the hearing: "The brief circumstances are that at approximately 8.20pm on Saturday, July 24, a single-vehicle collision occurred on the Langton road in Kingston, Swanage.

"Samuel was the driver of an Audi motor vehicle travelling on the Langton road near to the village of Kingston and whilst negotiating a bend in the road the vehicle left the road on its offside, striking the undergrowth and then coming to a sudden and abrupt halt in a field."

Paramedics, the air ambulance and police attended the incident but Mr Christopher, who lived in the Corfe Castle area, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are conducting a full investigation into the circumstances of the crash, Mr McEwan said.

Following a post-mortem examination, a cause of death was provided as multiple injuries.

Mr Allen adjourned the inquest until December 7, when a review hearing will take place.