Elderly friends tragically killed in a crash with a police car after leaving Calcot Park golf course died from blunt force trauma to their chest a coroner has revealed, writes Luke Adams.

Pamela Valley, 87, of Crown Lane, Slough had just left the golf course with her doctor Gwyneth De Camps on January 23 when their Nissan Micra collided with a dog unit responding to an incident in Reading.

Mrs Valley is thought to have been driving the car and died at the scene on Bath Road.

Her friend Mrs De Camps, 88, of Farm Lane, Slough was rushed to Royal Berkshire Hospital before her death was confirmed.

The inquests were formally opened at Reading Town Hall on Monday.

Peter Bedford, senior coroner for Berkshire, said: "Although investigations are ongoing, both ladies are believed to have died from blunt force trauma to the chest.

"Mrs Valley died on the A4 Bath Road, while her doctor died on the same date but at Royal Berkshire Hospital.

"The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have responsibility for the investigation because the crash involves a police officer."

The crash is thought to have happened shortly before 4pm, when the unmarked 4x4 police vehicle was responding to an incident.

Mr Bedford said a preliminary hearing would precede the full inquest although a date has yet to be confirmed.

A spokesman for the IOPC said although the police dog vehicle was unmarked it did have the blue lights on at the time.

He said: "We are in the process of downloading the on-board data box and that will give us more information about whether or not the sirens were on.

"Our investigators were at the scene last night. We are in the process of collecting CCTV footage of the collision. We are also trying to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

"This is a busy road and we are hoping local residents will have seen something to assist our investigation. The current understanding is that the members of the public were pulling onto the A4 from Calcot Park Golf Course.

"We are unable to identify the officer at this time, but it was a single officer in the car. We have no details of any injuries at this time."