A FATHER was hit by a minibus while on a night out with friends.

Christopher Dain, aged 34, of Turnstone Road, Bolton, was struck by the private-hire vehicle as he crossed Blackburn Road, near to the junction with Halliwell Road, in the early hours of February 18, 2006.

He died later that day at the Royal Bolton Hospital after his family made the painful decision to switch off his life support machine.

Mr Dain, a former pupil at Withins High school, had spent the previous evening drinking and singing karaoke with friends in a number of pubs in the Halliwell area.

He had drunk about five pints of lager and seven bottles of alcopops before the accident and was "merry but not drunk", Bolton Coroner's Court heard.

Mr Dain left the Bowling Green Public House, in Blackburn Road, at about 1.30am and had taken two or three steps into the road when he was hit by a white Ford Transit minibus driven by Mohammed Khan.

Mr Khan had just dropped off a fare in Egerton and was driving towards Bolton town centre. He told the inquest he had been driving at under 30mph.

Giving evidence, Mr Khan, said: "I heard a loud bang and at first I thought someone had thrown a stone at the side of the car. I stopped the car in the middle of the road and got out. I didn't see him walk off the pavement.

"I am deeply sorry for his family, but there was no way I could have avoided him."

Mr Khan's vehicle was later examined by police and found not to have any defects which would have contributed to the accident.

Police investigators were unable to determine Mr Khan's exact speed at the time of the collision but said the damage to the vehicle was consistent with a sideways collision.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, as a result of a head injury, deputy coroner Alan Walsh said: "Christopher Dain was a man who worked hard, played hard and enjoyed his life.

"He was close to his family and had a loving relationship with his young daughter Jenna.

"He had been drinking that night and it may be that his judgement was impaired or that he was distracted when he walked into the road."