THE education director of the Vale of Glamorgan died after falling almost 100ft off a mountainside while cycling through fog on holiday in France, an inquest has heard.

Jennifer Hill, 57, of Monmouth, was said to have missed a hairpin bend above the Gavernie area of the Pyrenees in August.

Newport Coroner’s Court heard that Mrs Hill, who was the director of education at Vale of Glamorgan council, died instantly.

Mrs Hill had been holidaying with her husband Christopher Spector, who described his wife as being an experienced cyclist who rode between 80 to 100 miles a week.

The couple were on the first day of their holiday when they hired bicycles to make the ascent.

Mr Spector, who noticed no defects with the bicycles they chose, said that they were joined by two other residents at their hotel for the ride.

“We passed a thick cloud and we rode through and above the cloud together, she was just behind me” said Mr Spector.

The cyclists remained at the top of the climb for around 20 minutes before beginning the descent, with Mrs Hill once again riding behind her husband.

“I was taking it slowly and carefully, and I passed back through the cloud,” Mr Spector added.

“I didn’t look behind me and I stopped about four miles after to wait for her. I didn’t’ see her pass me so I thought that I might’ve missed her.”

Mr Spector returned to the café from which they had set out and it was there that he was informed about the accident.

Mrs Hill had misjudged the bend during the descent and fell off the cliff some 100 ft, with her bike travelling “some distance further” down the slope, the court heard.

Mr Spector sai he was “surprised” to hear that his wife had lost control of her bike as she had considerable experience cycling around Europe.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the coroner, who said that Mrs Hill had “died doing a pastime that she enjoyed”.

Speaking in August, Vale of Glamorgan managing director Rob Thomas said: “Those of us who worked with Jennifer will remember her not only as being hugely talented but also for being extremely committed to her role, and to improving the standard of education in the Vale,” he said.

“Jennifer’s work was admired far beyond the Vale of Glamorgan and her tragic death is a great loss to her profession. The greater loss is of course to Jennifer’s family, friends and colleagues.”