TWO factory workers who were responsible for the death of a moped rider during a 100mph road race have been warned they are facing jail.

Father-of-four Derek Miller, 59, died after he was hit by Steven Hoggett's Citroen Saxo as the teenager tried to keep up with workmate Csaba Nemeth's Toyota Corolla.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how the pair had just finished a late shift at Artek, in Sunderland, and were travelling on the A1231 Washington Highway, near the A19 junction.

Mr Miller had just finished his shift at car plant Nissan and was riding his moped on the same stretch of road when he was hit.

Hoggett and Nemeth denied racing at the time of the crash but were found guilty by a jury yesterday.

Judge Tony Lancaster told them: "I ought to make it clear to you both it is inevitable, having been convicted of this offence, the sentence will be a custodial one for you both."

The pair will be sentenced on February 23 but were granted bail.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Miller's widow Sylvia, 54, said: "My life has just gone, I sometimes cannot cope without Derek. He did everything, he was always there for us."

Mr Miller had just celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary and his daughter's 18th birthday party in the weeks before his death.

His wife said: "I just hope people who get behind the wheel of a car like that realise what they can be responsible for."

Hoggett, of Hawkins Road, Murton, County Durham, and Nemeth, of Rosedale Street, Sunderland, denied causing death by dangerous driving while racing.

Hoggett had pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mr Miller by driving dangerously fast.