Five of the victims were travelling in the same black BMW

The victims died after a BMW driven by 19-year-old Mitch Treliving crashed into an oncoming Land Rover Freelander on the A23 in East Sussex last May.

He was killed along with his four passengers, as were three people, including a toddler, in the Land Rover.

An inquest heard tests on Mr Treliving had found trace amounts of alcohol, but more significant levels of cannabis.

It was the fastest I've ever seen a car travel on British or European roads Edmund O'Toole, witness

A statement from coroner Roger Stone read to the inquest in Worthing, West Sussex, on Wednesday said that although Mr Treliving had previously used cannabis resin, it was not possible to say whether he was under the influence prior to the crash near Brighton on 16 May.

The inquest also heard from other drivers who told how the BMW had been seen travelling at high speed and "tailgating" other cars.

One witness, Edmund O'Toole, told the hearing he had been driving south on the A23 shortly before the crash and had seen the BMW travelling very fast and close to the car in front.

"It was the fastest I've ever seen a car travel on British or European roads."

Sgt Niall Griffin, who carried out forensic studies of the scene, estimated the BMW's speed had been in "the high 90s" when it went out of control.

Those killed in the car with Mr Treliving, who was from Faygate, near Horsham, were Aaron Sharpe, 20, Katherine Sharpe, 18, Danielle Billingham 17, and Gemma Smoker, 17, all from the Crawley area.

Kate Beasley, 29, and her husband Toby Beasley, 33, from Godalming in Surrey, and two-year-old Marcus Mohabir, who were all in the Land Rover Freelander, also died.

The only survivor, Marcus' father Stephen Mohabir, 36, from Godalming, suffered a fractured leg.

The hearing continues.