BUS passengers told of the horrifying moment a drunken man died after running in front of their vehicle

Commuters on the 501 service said they heard a thud and the bus driver, Umedai Shamji Alani, scream: "Oh my God, I've just hit him. He just walked out in front of me."

Thomas Green, aged 38, of Paulhan Street, Great Lever, was killed instantly.

Passengers rushed to his aid as he lay in the road but they could not feel a pulse.

An inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard how Mr Alani, aged 59, immediately slammed on his brakes and pulled the single decker R-reg bus over after the accident which happened at 8.45pm at Bishop's Road, on April 5. But assistant deputy coroner Simon Nelson also heard how a missing lamp post which made a section of the road darker than the rest could have contributed to Mr Green's death.

Nurse Donna Haynes, who was travelling on the bus to the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "I suddenly heard a huge bang and the bus pulled into the left. I went to the front and and saw the windscreen above the steering wheel was shattered. The driver looked stunned. There was a lot of commotion."

Mr Nelson, who recorded a verdict of misadventure, heard the weather was cold but dry.

Mr Green had been drinking on the night of his death. Consultant pathologist Dr David Bissett said Mr Green was three times over the drink-drive limit.

Tracy Van Hecker, a health care assistant, described seeing Mr Green before he died. She was parked on Lowther Street, Great Lever, and spotted him staggering and falling against garden walls. She said: "He nearly fell on my car when he went past and seemed very drunk. I watched him in my rear view mirror and I noticed he started running just as the bus got into view."

Mr Green had attended Mount St Joseph's School before moving to Bolton College. He worked at Kirby Central, on Manchester Road, Bolton, as well as for Bellway Homes.

His mother, Mary, described him as a good worker and said hee had no worries.

Driver Mr Alani did not give evidence but the inquest heard a transcript of his police interview.

The experienced driver described seeing Mr Green running across the road and then standing still moments before impact.

He said: "There was no way he could have made it across the road before I got there."

PC Michael Wilson said a lamp post was missing which made the road darker.

Constable John Griffin added: "The absence of street lighting would have contributed to some extent to Mr Green's death." The lamp post has since been replaced.