The family of a Darlington man killed in a suspected hit and run 38 years ago have issued a fresh appeal for witnesses after the anniversary of his death.

Nineteen-year-old Gary Britton was returning from Rumours nightclub after a night out on September 13, 1986 when he was struck by a car in Brinkburn Road.

He died of horrific head injuries and detectives later ruled out foul play. An inquest at the time ruled Gary’s death was accidental and he had been lying in the road.

But the driver did not stop at the scene and was never found while Gary’s family were left searching for answers as to what happened.

Meanwhile Gary’s mam and dad died without closure and his pregnant girlfriend’s baby was born without a father.

Gary Britton.Gary Britton. (Image: FAMILY) His brother Gerald Britton told The Northern Echo: “I think of Gary all the time, I have a photo of him on the mantelpiece.

“His girlfriend was pregnant when he died but she hadn’t told him. Phillip was born after Gary died and I’ve been in constant touch with him since he was born.

“He’s an absolute double of his dad.

“The anniversary makes everything feel a lot fresher. My mam and dad died without knowing.

“My and my sisters all go out for a drink to celebrate his life, to all have a good laugh and remember him.”

Gerald Britton with newspaper cuttings of stories in The Northern Echo at the time.Gerald Britton with newspaper cuttings of stories in The Northern Echo at the time. (Image: ARCHIVE)

Gary would have celebrated his 58th birthday on Wednesday (September 25).

Police launched extensive searches 38 years ago for the driver, and scoured the North East for a dark coloured car with a stripe down the side after paint was found on his body.

At the time, his father Victor pleaded for information. He said: "Whoever it is has got to come forward so we can end all this and we can have peace of mind."

Gerald continued: “I had been out with him the night before and arranged to go out with him that night but I hadn’t gone out because I was working on the Saturday morning.

Gary Britton.Gary Britton. (Image: ARCHIVE)

“The police knocked on my door and I didn’t answer. I lived in a bedsit and there were lots of druggies around so I thought they had the wrong door.

“I went to work and my dad pulled up and told me what had happened.”

The family have issued a fresh appeal for anyone with information about what happened, or the identity of the driver, to approach them.

Gary continued: “After the anniversary there’s a few people have come up with the same name of a lad they think was driving the car, but he’s dead now.

A Northern Echo headline from the time.A Northern Echo headline from the time.

“I can’t go to the police unless I have got some I evidence

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“They still never found anybody. They searched up and down looking for a car because they found some paint on his body.

“We put something on Facebook every year and we always get different people giving us new information.”

Anyone with information can contact Gary’s niece Jodie Britton on Facebook, where they will also see the online appeal.