A coach driver who struck and killed a pedestrian walking in the dark along a busy road could not have avoided him, an inquest heard.

Michael Paston, 43, was walking his dog on the B1332 Norwich road at Kirstead Green when he was knocked down at about 5.15pm on December 2.

Yesterday's Norwich inquest heard Mr Paston was wearing dark clothing and, although he had a head torch, none of the witnesses saw it.

The inquest was told that Mr Paston, from the travellers' site in Upgate Road, Seething, was walking in the road several feet from the verge. There was no street lighting.

Collision investigator Sgt Andrew Hood said: 'When he was struck he was walking in the road while the verge was wide enough to walk on. If his head torch was on, it may not have been visible to the coach driver travelling behind.

'Mr Paston failed to appreciate his own vulnerability and limited conspicuousness to other road-users. He was facing away from the traffic on his side of the road, and it would have been very difficult for the coach driver to see him.'

Drugs were found in Mr Paston's bloodstream but the inquest was told it did not necessarily mean he would have been impaired at the time of the collision.

The inquest was told no charges were brought against coach driver Keith Wakefield, who was working for Ambassador Travel.

Mr Wakefield said he had not seen Mr Paston on the road.

'I heard a bang and saw a flash of blue out the corner of my eye. Then the windscreen went completely and started to break.'

He stopped and Mr Paston's dog ran up and jumped on to the back seat of the bus.

Mr Paston died from multiple injuries.

Jacqueline Lake, deputy coroner for Norfolk, recorded a verdict of death due to a road traffic collision.