Dad Jonathan Blyton (28), of Broomhill Road, was tragically killed in a devastating crash on the accident-blackspot Hucknall Lane in Bulwell on August 24 last year.

He was travelling alone on his red Kawasaki bike when the driver of a green Ford Mondeo car – pensioner Joan Adams – did a U-turn and pulled directly into his path.

The impact was so powerful that Mr Blyton was thrown through the air. He suffered such severe head-injuries that he was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the efforts of doctors and nurses from the nearby St Albans Medical Centre.

The inquest heard from Mrs Adams, of Bramcote, that she looked around and saw the road was clear before carrying out the fatal manoeuvre.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded by deputy coroner Martin Gotheridge, who explained it wasn't his role to apportion blame for the tragedy.

However, in an unusual twist at the end of the hearing, it was revealed that a decision had been made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to issue a summons to charge Mrs Adams with driving without due care and attention.

But a disastrous error meant she was not formally charged within a six-month deadline – much to the disgust of Mr Blyton's family.

An investigation was launched into how this happened and the police used the inquest as an opportunity to issue a public apology to Mr Blyton's wife, Katie.

Insp Ben Crane, a senior roads policing officer, said: "Together with the CPS, we have visited Mrs Blyton and we unreservedly apologise. Steps have been put in place to stop this happening again.

"Again I would like to apologise for our failings."

The inquest heard that the accident happened just after 12 midday on a sunny August afternoon near Bulwell's Territorial Army centre.

Mr Blyton, who leaves a daughter, Millie, had turned into Hucknall Lane from Sandhurst Road and was travelling in the direction of Bulwell.

Forensic crash investigator, Pc Andrew Fletcher, calculated his speed at between 38 and 42 mph on the 30 mph road at the time of the collision.

Mrs Adams had never visited that part of Bulwell before and was en route to pick up her daughter, who had dropped her car off for repairs at a local garage.

Witness Michael Kerry, who was not at the inquest, said in a statement that he was driving towards Hucknall on the opposite side of the road when he heard the impact between the Mondeo and the motorbike.

He turned round and positioned his car near Mr Blyton to give him some protection. He noticed the motorbike, which had a crushed front end, and the Mondeo, which had severe damage to the driver's side-door.

Mr Kerry went over to Mrs Adams, who was shaken and was repeatedly asking how the biker was.