A CONSERVATIVE politician and landowner was killed when he lost control of an all-terrain vehicle on his estate in a tragic accident.

Anthony Trollope-Bellew was driving on his farmland at Crowcombe one day in October last year.

An inquest at Taunton has heard the 69-year-old lost control of the vehicle and it flipped onto its side and the father-of-two was ejected.

He suffered fatal injuries to his head and neck and died at the scene despite emergency medical treatment.

Mr Trollope-Bellew was a former leader of the now disbanded West Somerset District Council and a Cabinet Member at Somerset County Council. At the time of his death he was a member of Somerset West and Taunton Council.

At the time of his death, political colleagues said he was a 'true Tory of the old school'.

He was 'immensely liked and respected by colleagues and officers' and was a 'larger than life character who cared passionately about West Somerset, the Quantocks and doing the right thing'.

West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said: "The family name has been synonymous with the area for decades and Anthony was one of the most respected members of the local farming community."

Assistant coroner Nicholas Lane recorded an accident death conclusion.

He said married Mr Trollope-Bellew was a landowner who died at Hurley Farm, Crowcombe, on October 28, 2022.

The inquest took place three days before the ex-councillor was commemorated by a race at Taunton on Monday (March 20) which was named in his honour.

The 3.15pm Anthony Trollope-Bellew Memorial Handicap Chase, with prize money totalling more than £30,000, was run over two miles, seven furlongs and was won by Dr Ken, ridden by jockey Aidan Coleman.

READ MORE: How the County Gazette reported Mr Trollope-Bellew's tragic death.