21148-115 & 26324-15 INSET: Jimmy DavisA MANCHESTER United and England star who had a three- month loan stint at Swindon Town FC was twice over the drink drive limit when he died in a 120mph crash.

An inquest in Oxford recorded a verdict of accidental death on Jimmy Davis, who was killed in the crash on the M40 last August.

Witnesses and the police estimated that his BMW three-series car was travelling at up to 120mph in patchy fog without fog lights.

It was in the early hours of August 9 when his car struck the back of a 32-tonne articulated lorry on an Oxfordshire stretch of the motorway. He died instantly.

His car had buried itself in the rear of the truck and was dragged for more than 300 yards, scattering debris, before bursting into flames.

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said sleep, alcohol, and the speed of the car were all factors in the tragedy.

He added: "Speed of that sort clearly has the potential to be very dangerous indeed and, if anything does go wrong, it will be greatly exaggerated."

A wave of grief went through Swindon Town FC and its fans when news of the player's death broke.

Mr Davis had become a firm favourite at the County Ground during his three months on loan there, which ended in November of 2002.

Swindon players, along with manager Andy King, were among 50 mourners who attended his private funeral service at Redditch Crematorium.

Other mourners included David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Swindon striker Sam Parkin summed up the regard in which Mr Davis was held, saying: "Jimmy made a big impression during his time here and made a lot of friends.

"He came from a big club and because of that, maybe people expected him to be a bit arrogant. He was anything but.

"The supporters loved him too and it's just so hard to take in."

Mr Davis was on loan to Watford at the time of his death, and had been on the way to the opening game of the season, although he would not have played that day as he was injured.

The inquest heard that he had spent the previous evening drinking with a friend.

Mr Davis' best friend, Timothy Wilkes, said the pair had gone home at about 2.30am, and the plan had been for Mr Davis to pick up Mr Wilkes and drive him from Redditch to Watford the following morning but Mr Davis had decided to set out immediately.

Portuguese lorry driver Paulo Dos Santos, whose truck Mr Davis' car struck, said he felt an impact which rocked the vehicle and he could have done nothing to avoid the accident.

Barrie Hudson