A MOTORCYCLIST died during his driving test after being asked to perform an emergency stop, the opening stage of an inquest has heard.

Christopher David Evans, from Chester, died after the incident at the Driving Test Centre on Navigation Road, Pocket Nook, St Helens during the afternoon of Tuesday, March 11.

The 39-year-old, a shift manager at a cranes operation firm, was at the centre to take an examination for his MOD 1 bike test certificate.

An opening statement of the inquest by coroner's officer for St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton, Jaqueline Horner, read: "During the test, he was requested to perform an emergency stop.

"During this process, witnesses state it appeared to them that he had in fact accelerated instead of braking.

"He collided with the metal fencing around the perimeter of the test centre, before then colliding with a brick wall of a premises, next to the test centre."

He was treated at the site by emergency services but was declared dead at the scene.

Christopher was married to Joanne, 34.

The inquest was adjourned by Coroner Graham Jackson until a later date.

Following the tragedy, flowers were tied to a fence near the test centre.

One showed a picture of the man posing with Everton shirts in the background. A note read: "RIP Big Chris."