A retired priest had spent his final months taking care of his brother before they were involved in a car crash days after Christmas, an inquest heard.

On Monday, an inquest into the death of Neville McClement concluded at Suffolk Coroners’ Court in Ipswich.

Father McClement died in February aged 91, after being involved in a car crash between Lowestoft and Beccles on December 29 last year.

The court heard that Father McClement, of North Cove, had retired to Suffolk where he lived with his elder brother, Eric, who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

The court heard that the last year had been difficult for Father McClement; who was tired from taking care of his brother, but was adamant that he would continue looking after him in their own home.

A close friend, Barbara Radforth, told the court that on December 29, Father McClement and his brother had gone out in search of fish and chips, which is a traditional Friday dinner for Catholics.

They were travelling along the A146 towards Beccles, with Father McClement driving, when they became involved in a head on collision.

DC Ellie Bloomfield told the court that witnesses had seen Father McClement’s Peugeot enter the oppositive side of the carriageway, with the oncoming Fiat 500 leaving the road and entering a bush.

An eyewitness said that the Peugeot appeared to “drift” over the solid white line dividing the carriageways, before “substantially” crossing the line.

The other driver sustained a spinal fracture in the crash.

Father McClement was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with fractures to his ribs and sternum.

He was transferred to the James Paget University Hospital on February 1 for further rehabilitation, although it was noted that he remained very frail.

Father McClement died in hospital on February 6.

Assistant coroner for Suffolk Dr Daniel Sharpstone concluded that he had died as a consequence of being involved in a road traffic collision.