A WIDOW has paid a touching tribute to her army major husband who died in a road accident in Basra just three weeks before they were due to be reunited.

Speaking yesterday following an inquest into Major Nicholas Bateson's death, his wife Angela told the Daily Echo: "He was a lovely man; the perfect gentleman.

"We were looking forward to him coming home after a four-month operational tour in Iraq with the Royal Signals. He died just three weeks before that reunion."

Major Bateson, 48, suffered fatal injuries on May 1 this year after his pedal cycle collided with a coach carrying military personnel outside the contingency operating base at Basra.

A Bournemouth coroner's court heard how the coach driver had been manoeuvring around a pile of sand in the road when tragedy struck as Major Bateson cycled to work.

A post mortem showed that the super-fit army officer had died from multiple injuries.

Mrs Bateson, who lives in Pimperne, fondly recalled how the couple had met at Blandford Camp.

"I was employed there as a civil servant and Nick was my boss," she said. "We were together for 19 years and married 13 years."

She added: "Nick was a fitness fanatic and had taken part in numerous London marathons, completing the course in an average of just over two-and-a-half hours.

"He had represented Great Britain at the world triathlon championships and gone to Switzerland last year.

"Nick was also a keen cyclist and various sporting events have been held in his memory."

Col Alick Finlayson from the army inquest cell said: "Cycling was Major Bateson's passion; he was an extremely fit man."

After hearing statements from various witnesses, East Coroner Sheriff Payne recorded an accidental death verdict.