A PEDESTRIAN killed in a late night accident was on his way home after a night with friends, an inquest heard yesterday.

Christopher Thompson died in Bishop Auckland Hospital as a result of head injuries, two days after he collided with a car near Tindale Crossing.

The 29-year-old, from Braithwaite Street, Shildon, had been drinking and blood tests showed traces of cannabis.

William Robinson, from West Auckland, told the Bishop Auckland inquest that he had seen Mr Thompson crossing the road after 10.30pm on Saturday, July 13.

He said: "He just seemed to carry on at his normal pace and when he got into the middle of the road he seemed to stop, then all of a sudden he started to move forward. The vehicle could not do anything about it."

The pensioner, from Liverpool, was travelling home with his wife Olive after attending their daughter's silver wedding anniversary.

He said he did not see Mr Thompson, who was wearing dark clothing, until he stopped the car, saying that he heard an appalling thud and assumed a brick had been thrown at the windscreen.

South Durham Coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death.