A BURNLEY taxi driver who was told to slow down by a passenger later lost control on an icy road and died after hitting a wall, an inquest heard.

Munawar Hussain, 44, had picked up three passengers going to Crawshawbooth outside Walkabout, in Hargreaves Street, in the early hours of Sunday, December 28.

When travelling on the A682, Burnley Road -- which had been gritted at about 7.15pm the day before -- Mr Hussain speeded up and started cutting corners prompting the group to tell him to slow down.

Minutes after dropping the group off, Mr Hussain lost control of his Burnley-bound cab by the junction of Commercial Street in Loveclough.

The inquest heard that Maqbool Hussain, a colleague, found the cab and called Mr Hussain's name but he did not respond.

PC Stephen Wilson, of the accident investigation unit, said the car had no defects and Mr Hussain had lost control and skidded 47 metres across the road into the wall.

He added it was not known how fast the car was travelling but it could have been at the 40mph speed limit.

A post mortem examination was carried out the next day and found that he died of multiple injuries.

Toxicology reports revealed there were no substances in Mr Hussain's body which could have impaired his driving.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Richard Taylor said the freezing road conditions could have contributed to the accident but did not blame Rossendale Borough Council, who are responsible for gritting the road.

He said: "The road had been gritted before but the conditions had deteriorated."

Following Mr Hussain's death it emerged, his brother, Khadim Hussain, 48, dropped dead of suspected heart attack after hearing the news.