The death of a teenager who was hit by a disqualified driver was a 'tragic accident' an inquest has heard.

Daryl Bridge, was walking along Shillington Road towards Lower Stondon on October 27 last year, after his car broke down, when a silver Daewoo Lanos collided with him.

The 19-year-old, of Jubilee Close, Henlow, suffered multiple injuries and serious head injuries.

On Wednesday (July 1) Bedford Coroner's Court was told the driver of the Daewoo, Mathieu Cannon, of Mill Lane Campton, would only have seen Daryl less than a second before the collision took place and would have had no time to react.

Following the collision Cannon, 20, pleaded guilty to causing death while disqualified and causing death while having no insurance.

He was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders institution by Luton Crown Court, but was released last month after serving six and a half months.

Giving evidence at Bedford Coroner's Court he said: "I was driving to Campton and the next thing I know I just heard a bang to the car.

"I saw nothing in the road prior to that."

The straight stretch of Shillington Road where Daryl died has no street lighting and other witnesses told assistant deputy coroner Tom Osborne that they too had not seen the teenager until the last moment.

Mr Osborne recorded a verdict that he died as a result of an accident.

For the full report see the July 3 edition of the Biggleswade Chronicle.