A DRINK driver who killed his friend in a high-speed crash is today starting a six-year prison sentence.

Mohammed Bhatti was seen driving at speeds estimated to be as high as 100mph before he lost control of a Vauxhall Vectra and ploughed into railings.

Firoz Patel, who was a passenger in the car, was killed instantly and left behind a wife and three-year-old daughter.

Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday that Bhatti had lied to the police after the accident, saying that Mr Patel, aged 29, of Sunninghill Street, Daubhill, had been the driver meaning his family had to postpone his funeral while a second post-mortem examination took place.

A blood test found Bhatti who only has a provisional driving licence was more than one-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit.

Bhatti, aged 21, of St Helens Road, Daubhill, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving without a licence.

Sentencing Bhatti to six years in prison, Judge Gillian Ruaux said he had caused the family "considerable anguish" by lying to police.

Bhatti was also banned from driving for five years.

Jon Savage, prosecuting, said the car was being driven by Bhatti, but belonged to Mr Patel.

The pair had been at a friend's house in the Middlebrook area and Bhatti told police he had drunk three glasses of whiskey before the pair left to go home.

The court was told that a Vauxhall Vectra was seen being driven along Chorley New Road in Horwich at speeds which witnesses estimated at being between 60mph and 100mph.

One eye-witness said he had seen all four of the car's wheels leave the road as it passed over a hump-back bridge before it swerved violently and crashed into railings before coming to rest against a wall.

Paramedics pronounced Mr Patel dead at the scene.

Bhatti initially told police that his friend had been driving the car and it was only after a Home Office pathologist had carried out a second post-mortem examination that he admitted being the driver.

Judge Ruaux said that in passing sentence she had acknowledged the upset that delaying a quick funeral in line with the family's Muslim beliefs had caused.

She told Bhatti: "I'm satisfied that you were driving recklessly and at excessive speed."

"The delays you caused to Mr Patel's funeral were very hard for the family to bear."

Defending, Ian Metcalfe said: "The defendant knows full well that his driving was directly responsible for the death of his friend."

A statement by Mr Patel's family said: "The pain and suffering caused by Mr Bhatti will never be forgotten by us.

"Firoz was a loving son, husband and brother and a devoted father to his three-year-old daughter."