It may never be known what happened when four members of the British ban Viola Beach were killed when their manager drove a car through two crash barriers over a raised bridge before plunging into a canal below, an inquest has heard.

Craig Tarry, 32, was behind the wheel of the hired Nissan Qashqai taking the band back to their hotel after playing at a festival for upcoming bands in the Swedish town of Norkopping near Stockholm last February.

He died along with Kris Leonard, 19, River Reeves, 19, Tomas Lowe, 27, and Jack Dakin, 19.

Cheshire Coroner's Court heard that despite a series of flashing warning lights, Mr Tarry drove the car down a verge past stationary traffic and crashed through two sets of barriers before hitting a raised section of the bridge and plunging 30 metres into the water below.

Technical examination showed there was nothing wrong with the car, the signalling or barrier system, or the procedure for raising the bridge, and the road was wet but not frozen with ice.

Mr Tarry had no drugs or alcohol in his system and none of the others had drugs and only small amounts of alcohol in their blood.

The cause of death was head injuries except for Mr Lowe who died from drowning.

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg recorded all five died as a result of a road traffic accident at the end of a day-long inquest, which was attended by more than 20 family members of the deceased men.

"It's not for me to speculate, it is now known, I don't think it ever will be known what happened," he said.

Addressing the families, he added: "The events we have been hearing about reveal the most awful tragedy for all of you. I'm very sorry you have suffered this terrible loss."

The debut album of Viola Beach, who described themselves as an "indie pop" band, was released after their deaths.Their debut song Swings & Waterslides entered the official singles chart and topped the iTunes chart as tributes poured in from the music world.

Benedict Dunne, father of guitarist Mr Reeves, told the inquest his son studied drama and then changed to music.

He said: "It was a situation where, ultimately, River, being the wilful person he was, wanted to follow his dreams.

"He was doing something he loved, which is not always something you get to do. He was as happy as he's ever been."

Following the hearing, Supt Martin Cleworth, of Cheshire Police, speaking on behalf of the families said: "The families of River, Tom, Jack, Kris and Craig wish to thank everybody for their kind support at this heartbreaking time and the support they have shown over the last 10 months.

"Many questions will remain unanswered and may well do so infinitum. It is a truly, truly tragic case.

"We don't know the final answer with any definitive logic in terms of what actually happened in those moments just prior to the final collision and tragic descent into the waters.

"We have given a commitment to continue to work with the coroner and the families to try and seek to understand some other issues that came from the inquest.

"Those questions are unlikely to actually ever get to that fundamental fact as to what went on in the seconds leading to the tragic collision."