THE father of a football fan who was killed crossing a road in Amsterdam has called for more information into his death.

Marc Purdy, 20, died after being hit by a bus or a tram after seeing his team Hartlepool United play in Holland.

Hartlepool Coroner Malcolm Donnelly was prepared to conduct an inquest into his death yesterday but Mr Purdy's father, John, decided to request more information after consulting with his wife, Carol.

Mr Purdy, who had to identify his son's body, said: "My wife feels a bit aggrieved that they (the Dutch authorities) can't even tell us whether it was a bus or a tram that killed him."

Mr Donnelly, who opened the inquest, said he would do all he could to find out more information on behalf of the family.

The coroner heard that Marc Purdy, of Rillston Close, Hartlepool, had seen his team play Eindhoven in a friendly on July 16, before heading into Amsterdam. He had a drink in Amsterdam but left friends and family to go home early, when he was killed shortly after midnight.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he had drunk about four pints of alcohol and was not drunk.

Speaking after the inquest, a spokesman for the family said that Marc Purdy, a production operator and keen amateur footballer, had not been involved in violence which erupted between rival fans earlier in the evening.

The inquest was adjourned.

Mr Purdy's funeral will be held at the Church of St Oswald, Brougham Terrace, Hartlepool at 11.30am today.