A KIDDERMINSTER man who died after he was in a collision with a van while crossing a road was "highly intoxicated" with alcohol at the time of the accident.

Paul Edwards, of Usmere Road, was walking along Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster, when he stepped out into the carriageway without checking for traffic.

The 59-year-old strolled into the middle of the road and stepped forward before being hit by a Volkswagen Caddy van, on November 1, last year, an inquest into his death heard today.

The inquest also heard that Mr Edwards, who was a tiler by trade, would have been three and a half times over the drink driving limit, had he been driving.

Robin Johnson, of Stourbridge, the driver of the van, was on his way home after a day's work at Whittle Coach and Bus, in Kidderminster, on the day of the accident.

He said he did not see Mr Edwards, who was wearing dark clothing, until the last minute, as he was dazzled by the lights of an oncoming car.

Speaking at the inquest, he said: "I saw Mr Edwards as a figure in the side of my window. He seemed to be staggering. At that stage, I braked, which caused my van to swerve to the left.

"I realised it was not going to stop and I took for the footpath.

"I heard a loud bang and didn't know what it was. When I got out of the van I heard someone shout to get an ambulance and Mr Edwards was on the floor."

James Mullen, of Dunnington Avenue, Kidderminster, was travelling along the Stourbridge Road towards Kidderminster town centre, in his Mitsubishi car, and saw Mr Edwards step out in front of him.

The telecoms engineer said he believed Mr Edwards was intoxicated because his head was down as he crossed the road and he was staggering.

He said: "As I was driving I came to the brow of a hill and I saw Paul step out in front of me. I could see him quite clearly because he had the light of the Horsefair behind him.

"As I came towards him I slowed down. He came into the middle of the road and he stopped and seemed to step forward.

"He didn't look in my direction. He just stepped forward. It looked like he hesitated or he was about to stop.

"I don't think he was aware that there was traffic around him because he wasn't looking.

"I saw him step out in front of me and then he went into the middle of the road. I didn't think he was going to step forward because it was clear to me that there was traffic coming.

Describing the accident, Mr Mullen, added: "He (Mr Edwards) was thrown up into the air and he seemed to land on his head.

"At that point I was alongside him and stopped my car. I got out of the car and could see that Paul was badly injured so I called an ambulance and police."

In his conclusion, Worcestershire coroner, Geraint Williams, said: "It's not clear from the evidence where he (Mr Edwards) came from but he was clearly very highly intoxicated."

He added that it was clear that Mr Edwards, who died as a result of head injuries, stepped out into the road without looking and collided with the side of the van.

Mr Williams recorded a verdict of accidental death.