Two elderly women were killed in a crash with a Road Wars police officer who was driving to an emergency incident, a jury inquest heard.

PC Darren Staley was travelling on the A4 Bath Road, in Calcot, Reading, when he crashed into a Nissan Micra on January 23 last year.

Dr Gwyneth DeCamps and Ann Valley, of Farnham Royal and Slough respectively, both suffered traumatic injuries in the crash after attending a luncheon group meeting at a golf club.

The driver of the Nissan, 87-year-old Mrs Valley, of Crown Lane, Slough, died at the scene, while Dr DeCamps, 88, of Farnham Lane, Farnham Royal, was taken to hospital before she died on the same day.

An inquest heard how the two women were slowly emerging from a junction when PC Staley hit their car at 49mph.

PC Staley was said to have acted heroically in the immediate aftermath of the crash, as he rushed from his unmarked vehicle to check on the two women.

Alison McCormick, assistant coroner for Berkshire, said that medical examinations revealed both women died of blunt force trauma to the chest.

Concluding the inquest, she gave a formal conclusion of road traffic collision for both of the women.

In her conclusion she stated: "Mrs Valley died on the afternoon of January 23, 2018 on the A4 Bath Road, Calcot, Berkshire, from injuries sustained while driving a car in collision with an unmarked police car.

"Mrs De Camps died on the afternoon of January 23, 2018 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, from injuries sustained while the front seat passenger of a car in collision with an unmarked police car.

"The police car was travelling at 70mph on an immediate call with lights and sirens activated. The give way sign on West Drive is set back from the road edge, thus restricting visibility of the A4. There is an additional obstruction from a lamp post."

The Thames Valley Police officer starred in the TV series Road Wars, known as PC ‘Daz’ Staley, and served as an officer on the elite Pro-Active unit.

The jury heard how he was rushing to the scene of reports of an offender ramming into another police vehicle.

PC Staley said: “I could see a vehicle from my nearside in my view. It seemed they came out of nowhere - all I could remember is braking, holding the steering wheel in place and hoping it was going to stop.

“When I opened my eyes, my vehicle was full of smoke and straight away I was aware the vehicle was on fire. I undid my seatbelt, reached for the driver’s door and I remember having pain to my head.”

Speaking shortly after Mrs DeCamp’s death, her daughter, Joy Heaton, paid an emotional tribute to her mother.

She said: "I have never met anybody who loved their career so much. Even at Christmas she was saying how much she loved it and how much she missed it every day.

"Patients that she used to support in those days still sent her Christmas cards, along with their children and grandchildren. She worked through generations in the family planning field and helped many many patients fulfil their needs with children."

Mrs DeCamps, professionally known as Dr Botherway, had survived the Blitz in London and went on to study at Westminster Medical School and King's College, London, to eventually qualify as a doctor.

An independent investigation concluded the officer’s account was consistent with correct protocol and there was no indication of misconduct.

IOPC regional director Jonathan Green added: “The consequences of this incident were tragic and my thoughts are with both families and all those affected. After conducting a thorough investigation we found that the officer’s driving was in line with police policies for responding to emergency calls.”