A MOTORCYCLIST was killed while racing at high speed with the driver of a powerful Audi in Brierley Hill, a jury has been told.

"This was not a formal race, it happened in a moment but each was encouraging the other to drive faster and faster," alleged Andrew Baker, prosecuting.

"The cause of this terrible fatality was both men going too fast - egging each other on in a dangerous way and it lead to relatively inexperienced motorcyclist losing his life," he added.

Mr Baker told Wolverhampton Crown Court that it was estimated that Stourton motorcyclist Elliott Beddow had been travelling at around 79mph on his Harley Davidson in the 30mph zone on September 3, 2016.

Motorist Dylan Dudgon had hit 68mph moments before Mr Beddow lost control of his bike, skidded and smashed into railings. He was certified dead at the scene.

Dudgon, of Victoria Road, Quarry Bank, has pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Baker told the jury the 20-year-old victim was an inexperienced rider, who had been using his powerful bike for a relatively short time and had been going far too fast.

Tests later revealed that Mr Beddow, who had been drinking earlier in the same pub as Dudgon, was just under the legal drink-drive limit.

Dudgon, who had passengers in his Audi, did stop after the accident for a short time but he did not stay at the scene, near the Silver End Convenience Store in Brettell Lane - and as a result he could not provide police officers with an alcohol test.

The 42-year-old, added Mr Baker, went to police a few days later when he admitted he had exceeded the speed limit but maintained he had not been driving as fast as the speed estimated by experts.

CCTV later revealed the two men had been just six tenths of a second and sixty feet apart before the impact as they sped down the road in a race that lasted up to a mile.

The trial, in front of Judge Michael Challinor, is continuing.