AN elderly man died instantly when he was struck by a car as he staggered along a busy road after a drinking session, an inquest heard.

Robert Ash, 73, of Lingfield Ash, Coulby Newham, collided with a Vauxhall Astra, on the A174, near Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough, at about 11.30pm on November 13 .

Mr Ash, who lived with his daughter Carol, had been out drinking in Middlesbrough on the day of the accident and earlier in the evening had had to be helped home by two brothers who lived in the same street.

Sidney Kellam Hodgson said he recognised his neighbour slumped on the ground in the middle of the road near the petrol station around Ladgate Lane.

His daughter Carol said when she returned home from work at about 8pm she found her father asleep in the kitchen. A little later she heard the front door close and looked out of an upstairs window and saw her father walking away.

Officers from the police motoring division said no blame could be attributed to the driver, Victoria Holmes, of Crestwood, Redcar.

PC Stephen Garner said: "She was given little or no time to avoid him. He was wearing dark clothing and was drunk, by all accounts."

His blood and urine samples showed he had consumed about five pints of alcohol.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded his death as a result of an accident.