A ten-year-old Mid Sussex girl was killed in a crash with an overloaded jeep while on a family holiday to India, an inquest was told.

Catriona Mair, of Hurstwood Lane, Haywards Heath, died when the car she was travelling in with her parents in India collided with an oncoming jeep.

In statement read to Haywards Heath Coroner's Court yesterday, her father, William Mair, said: "The jeep was overloaded.

"It was licensed to carry ten passengers and one driver but it was in fact carrying 11 passengers and one driver.

"The impact caused the side of our vehicle to be ripped off. Catriona sustained internal injuries. We all received serious injuries as a result of the collision."

Mr Mair, a surgeon at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, added: "Sadly, Catriona was confirmed dead at the hospital, although I feel she died either at the time of the impact or very shortly afterwards."

Mr Mair's statement also said: "At the time of the impact I would estimate the speed of our vehicle to be about 50mph. The jeep was slightly slower."

The inquest heard that Catriona and her parents had gone to India on holiday and for a friend's wedding.

They were travelling along the main road from Jaipur to Delhi as a Jeep going in the opposite direction pulled out to overtake on February 16.

The driver of their tour car swerved to avoid the Jeep but its driver also swerved in the same direction and the two collided.

Catriona and her mother were sitting in the back seats but there were no seatbelts.

No one from Catriona's family attended the inquest.

Coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Stone said there could be further proceedings in India but they would be out of his jurisdiction.

Catriona's parents were treated for serious chest injuries in India, spending two weeks in hospital.

Earlier this month, friends and relatives from across the UK travelled to Catriona's funeral at the Church of St Peter and St John the Baptist in Wivelsfield.

A memorial service was also held at Tavistock and Summerhill School in Haywards Heath, where Catriona was a pupil.

Teachers and pupils are now creating a wildlife garden as a permanent memorial.

It will be built to Catriona's design after she won a competition to create it a few months before her death.

Catriona had won a scholarship to Brighton College only days before she went to India.