A teenager who died in a three-vehicle collision near Littleport was not wearing his seatbelt, an inquest heard.

Student Jack Ure, 18, was driving his friends William Harrison and Joseph Deverell to a party in Ely on June 20 last year to celebrate the end of their exams when his Renault Clio was involved in a collision with two other vehicles in Branch Bank.

The Renault pulled out of the Sandhill junction and attempting to turn right into Branch Bank when it was hit by a Mercedes being driven towards Littleport and travelling at about 50mph.

The Clio was then struck by a Land Rover travelling in the opposite direction – also travelling at about 50mph - before colliding with the Mercedes again and coming to a stop.

The force of the impact caused the teenager, of Little Downham, to be thrown from the vehicle and he suffered multiple injuries to his chest and head. He was declared dead at the scene.

At an inquest held into the death in Chatteris on Wednesday, coroner William Morris was told that Jack, described by his mother Emma as “bright, enthusiastic and happy-go-lucky” was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

Peter Bimson, a collision investigator for Cambridgeshire police, said that wearing his seatbelt might have improved Jack’s chances of avoiding serious injury but added that the force of the impact was “very serious” and there was no telling what difference a seatbelt may have made in this case.

A toxicology test carried out by Dr Betania Mahler-Araujo, of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, showed that there were traces of tetrahydrocannabinol - better known as THC – in Jack’s blood.

THC is the main constituent of cannabis, which police suggested – although could not confirm – had been ingested in the 24 hours leading up to the crash.

Mr Bimson added: “It is not known to what extent Jack’s use of cannabis may have been a factor in this collision.”

Coroner Mr Morris concluded that Jack died as a result of a road traffic collision.

He added: “I find this incredibly sad. A young man of promise at the threshold of his adult life has, through one driving error, had all this taken away from him.”