Peter Williams, 67, was killed when PC Sean Schofield's marked Volvo T5 hit his car head-on at 94mph.

The advanced police driver hit speeds of 104mph moments before he ploughed into Mr Williams' VW Touran in Lancashire in November 2006.

Schofield was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of careless driving.

The seven men and five women of the jury sent a note to the judge criticising Lancashire Police Force for allowing the high speed training exercise on the narrow country lane, which had a speed limit of 60mph.

Schofield, who was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving, was testing in-car Vascar (Vehicle Average Speed Computer and Recorder) equipment that involved him chasing a car driven by trainer PC Andrew Massingham, 41, to register its speed.

PC Massingham was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving and did not face the alternative charge of careless driving.

Lancashire Constabulary's Assistant Chief Constable Chris Weigh said: "This has been an incredibly long and difficult investigation for everyone involved and my thoughts are with Mr Williams' family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

"On behalf of Lancashire Constabulary, I would like to offer them my deepest sympathies."

He went on to say PCs Massingham and Schofield would remain on "alternative duties" while the force "digested" what the court and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had said.

* For more reaction to this story see Wednesday's Lancashire Evening Post