THE family of a teenager who was knocked down by a police car when he was high on ecstasy have urged Greater Manchester Police to step up their campaign against drugs.

They have also renewed calls for Bradshawgate in Bolton town centre to be pedestrianised.

Martin Barlow, aged 18, of Crompton Road, Tonge Moor, had taken a potentially lethal level of ecstasy and was also three times over the legal drink-drive limit, when he ran out between two parked taxis and was struck by a squad car in Bradshawgate on Friday, November 21, 2003.

He suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead later that night at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

During the course of the six-day inquest into his death, the jury at Bolton Coroner's Court heard evidence that the teenager had been running away from police officers on patrol in Bolton town centre following a dispute with a doorman.

Yesterday, the inquest jury concluded that the death was accidental.

They also said that the police driver had taken the "appropriate precautions" and that the parked vehicles on both sides of Bradshawgate on the night had been a contributory factor in the collision.

Martin was a production worker for a cake company in Bolton. He had two sisters, Donna, aged 23, and Sarah, aged 15.

His parents Beverley, aged 44, and Gary, aged 51, attended each day of the inquest.

In a statement, the Barlow family said: "Martin was a loving son, a devoted brother and had just become an uncle. He was only 18 when he was tragically taken from us and had so much to look forward to. We all miss him terribly.

"On that night he was celebrating his friend becoming a father.

"The celebration turned into a nightmare. We have found the past few weeks during the course of the inquest to be very difficult.

"It has been an emotional time for us all, but we are grateful for the opportunity to find out more about what happened on that tragic night.

"We were shocked to learn that Martin had taken ecstasy. He had no history of taking drugs but we are led to believe that it is all too easy to obtain them in Bolton's pubs and clubs. We ask Greater Manchester Police to ensure efforts are made to combat this.

"Bradshawgate is always busy with pedestrians, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. The police car involved in this collision was doing a maximum of 32mph.

"In our view this was still too fast. We have campaigned for Bradshawgate to be pedestrianised.

"Until steps are taken by the council to make it safer for pedestrians, we strongly urge all motorists to take extreme care to ensure that such a tragedy can be prevented."

The death of Martin had prompted changes to GMP's first aid kits approximately three weeks after his death, the inquest heard.

The zip on the first aid pouch carried in the patrol car had jammed, although evidence given by a medical expert said the delay in accessing the equipment would have not made any difference in Martin's case. The equipment is now carried in a box with clips.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming commended the actions of Amanda Cartwright, an off-duty nurse who gave first aid to Mr Barlow. She also paid tribute to the courage and dignity of the Barlow family.

She said: "Martin's parents and family have gone through every family's worst nightmare. Your child goes out for the evening happy and healthy and does not return.

"They have behaved throughout with commendable courage and great dignity and helped bring out some of the evidence we have heard in this hearing."

A GMP spokesman said: "GMP is aware of the verdict of the inquest and would like to offer its sincere sympathies to Mr Barlow's family and those close to him.

"The incident was subject to a thorough internal investigation by GMP, supervised by the Police Complaints Authority, the Independent Police Complaints Commission's predecessor.

"Following the verdict, the IPCC will now conclude its supervision of this investigation and will be liaising with Greater Manchester Police regarding the final processes required to reach this conclusion."