A paraglider plunged to his death when a strong gust ripped him out of the sky, an inquest has been told.

Richard Hills was flying with friends at Ditchling Beacon when a 20mph gust forced his canopy to collapse.

Mr Hills, who had only 26 hours' gliding experience, fell 50ft to the ground below.

The inquest heard that the father of two was testing his recently purchased Mission canopy at the beacon on September 3.

West Sussex coroner Roger Stone was told Mr Hills, 47, of St Albans, Herts, had waited until the afternoon for the wind to die down.

He flew for about ten minutes before a strong gust folded the wing of his canopy in two, sending him into an unrecoverable spin.

Mr Hills was taken by air ambulance to Worthing Hospital.

The coroner heard that Mr Hills' paraglider was a demanding piece of equipment and he had only 26 hours' flying experience.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, he said: "If he had had more experience, possibly he may have seen it coming a touch earlier or he may have reacted a touch earlier, but once his wing was tucked he was powerless to control it."