Friends of a man who died after being hit by a car said he was a lover of music who enjoyed Norfolk life.

Michael Rawson, 74, was crossing the A148 Cromer Road, when he was hit by a Mini Cooper at just past 5pm on New Year's Eve.

An inquest heard today he had gotten off the bus at the nearby stop after travelling home from meeting with a friend Fan Wang.

In a statement read out by area coroner Yvonne Blake Mr Wang said he was concerned about his friend's mobility.

'I noticed since I saw him last his mobility had deteriorated,' he said. 'I was worried about him having a fall and he apologised for walking slowly.'

But after getting off the bus, Mr Rawson - a retired university lecturer - needed to cross the road to reach his home, in sheltered accommodation in Lloyd Court.

Ms Blake said a police report detailed how it had been dark at the time, and the road did not have any streetlights or any kind of crossing.

Mr Rawson was also not wearing or carrying any type of reflectors.

In a statement from driver Lee Merritt it said Mr Rawson had been wearing dark clothing and he only saw the reflective tip on his crutches which caught Mr Merritt's headlights.

In the statement read out by Ms Blake, Mr Merritt said he slowed down and was able to avoid Mr Rawson. But the Mini Cooper coming in the other direction had not seen him, and there was a collision.

Emergency services were called and Mr Rawson was taken first to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital before being transferred to Addenbroke's in Cambridge, where he died on January 6.

Giving a narrative conclusion Ms Blake said: 'Mr Rawson died as a result of head injuries sustained as a result of a road traffic collision.'

She added that it was touching to see Mr Rawson's friends at the inquest, and they paid tribute to him afterwards.

One of Mr Rawson's friends, Brian Teather said: 'He was a dear friend for a number of years. He was a lover of classical music, he sung in a number of choirs in North Norfolk, he loved to join in Norfolk life.'

It is thought there are now plans to move the bus stop where Mr Rawson had alighted to a safer location.