THE death of a talented chef and photographer, hit by a taxi in Darlington after a night out with friends, was an accident, a coroner has decided.

Steve Graham, 32, had met long-standing friend, Sarah Botham and others for a night out in the town when he ran out on to Victoria Road, probably in an attempt to hail a taxi, and was hit, sustaining fatal head and brain injuries.

The inquest heard he was hit by a red Skoda Octavia taxi. Investigating traffic police officers agreed the driver, Ian Fisher, 46, had no reasonable chance of seeing Mr Graham and could not have been expected to stop.

All sides at the Teesside Coroner's Court in Middlesbrough agreed that Mr Graham, of Alnwick, had the equivalent of eight pints of beer in his system when he was hit by the car at about 12.30am on Sunday, February 2 and that he had run on to Victoria Road from Grange Road.

However, there was some dispute about how fast the taxi had been driving in the 30mph zone.

Durham Police's collision investigator, PC Michael Baxter, who has 30 years' experience, said it was impossible to say how fast the taxi was travelling as the exact point of impact could not be established. However, at various fixed points it could have been between 32mph and 35mph, although it may have been the car was actually below the speed limit.

That was queried by Mr Graham's family who, after studying CCTV footage, believed the car could have been travelling at more than 40mph.

An independent physics professor, Graham Greatrix, a forensics investigator, was asked to study the evidence and said it was probable the car was being driven at 34mph when it struck Mr Graham.

During the inquest a statement was read by Mr Graham's father, Barry, who said his son, born in Leeds, had "lived life to the full",and travelled the world as a chef. He had cooked for royalty and had many friends.

Mr Graham had enjoyed a night out in bars around Grange Road and was walking in a loose group when he ran ahead.

Only one person saw the moment Mr Graham was hit by the car.

Darryl Shaw, a barman who was putting out rubbish at the time, said Mr Graham was running at a three-quarter sprint and and whistling, apparently for a taxi, when he was struck.

The taxi driver was sober and investigating police officers agreed there was no case to send to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Teesside assistant coroner, Clare Bailey, said Mr Graham had been treated at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but had effectively died at the scene of the collision.

She recorded a verdict of accidental death, but also said she would be writing to Darlington Borough Council to recommend a 'slow down' sign be erected on Victoria Road.