A CYCLIST who was twice over the legal drink-drive limit died after swerving into the path of an oncoming taxi in Bideford, an inquest has heard.

David William Archer, 52, had spent the evening at a club in Bideford High Street and was cycling home to Littleham when the accident happened in the early hours of August 3, 2008.

The Barnstaple inquest heard that Mr Archer, a bachelor and smallholder, did not have any lights on his bike, and was not wearing a helmet or reflective clothing when he was in collision with a black Mercedes Vito minibus near Little America just before 1am.

He was taken to North Devon District Hospital with multiple injuries but died shortly afterwards.

Witness John Wonnacott, was driving back home from a family gathering in Stratton when he saw the cyclist.

In a statement he said the cyclist was wearing dark clothing and seemed to be oblivious to their presence.

He said: "I flashed my headlights but he didn't react."

Another driver, Harvey John Brown, was travelling from Buckland Brewer towards Bideford and saw a bike zig-zagging down the centre of the road and swerving into his lane before swerving back again.

He said in a statement: "He seemed vacant and unaware. I honked my horn at what I thought was a dangerous action by this person. I was so concerned that I called the police."

Minibus driver Hugh Mullin, told the court he was a self-employed taxi driver.

He was working that evening and was driving from Exeter to Bideford on the A386.

He had driven through Landcross and was heading up an incline when he said he saw a glimmer of something in the centre of his lane.

He said: "There was no street lighting so it was difficult to make out what it was. Initially I thought that it was an animal crossing the road."

The glimmer disappeared. He carried on for a short distance and suddenly saw a man on a pedal cycle.

"He was five yards in front. I immediately swerved to my right and the man seemed to come with me."

The bike struck the front of the car and the passenger window shattered.

He told coroner Elizabeth Earland: "I'm an experienced driver and have never experienced anything like this before. He came straight into me."

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.