A speeding teenage motorist caused the death of his friend after his BMW came off a road and struck a tree.

Callum Brown admitted causing the death of 16-year-old Brian Phimister by dangerous driving in Fife.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Tuesday how police investigators believed Brown was driving at least 58mph in a 40mph zone near Kirkcaldy.

The driver, who has a previous conviction for speeding and was 18 at the time of the crash, was going round a bend when he lost control of his vehicle on the A966 Coaltown of Wemyss to Dysart Road at 12.35am on June 5 last year.

Prosecution lawyer Jane Farquharson told the court nearby resident Freda Walker went to the scene after the car had collided with a tree.

She added: "Ms Walker heard noises coming from the driver's side of the car. On attending at that side of the vehicle, the accused Mr Brown identified himself as the driver.

"He was trapped inside. Ms Walker describes seeing his passenger, the deceased Mr Phimister, and it looking as if he was inside the tree."

Judge Craig Scott QC was told Mr Phimister was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics who attended the collision.

He had suffered blunt force injuries to the head and face.

Ms Farquharson told the court: "From the marks on the road and the damage profile seen on the car, the accused, Mr Brown, approached the bend in the road at excessive speed whilst trying to take the shortest possible route around the inside of the bend, he lost control of his vehicle which caused the car to yaw.

"This in turn caused his car to be travel off the road and strike the tree."

She added: "On his way to the hospital, the accused Mr Brown spoke of the accident to a paramedic.

"In respect of his manoeuvre around the bend, he volunteered information that whilst he normally dropped down to the third gear for that corner because he was tired he didn't and he could just remember skidding."

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin said his client and his deceased were "best friends" and he expressed remorse for what happened.

Mr Martin added: "Mr Brown appreciates that his expression of remorse will be of no comfort to the friends and family of Mr Phimister. It should be noted the deceased and Mr Brown were best friends."

Judge Scott deferred sentence until November 11 at the High Court in Paisley.