A DISTRAUGHT mum has pleaded with the hit-and-run driver who left her son dying in the road to come forward to end her torment.

Jenny Metcalfe was speaking after an inquest into the death of her son Shaun, 34, who died after being hit by a car outside the Hare and Hounds pub in Oswaldtwistle last January.

"I just wish he would give himself up," said Mrs Metcalfe, of Ruskin Avenue, Oswaldtwistle.

"He doesn't know what I am going through. Somebody somewhere knows something. They have got to. I just wish they would come forward and tell the police."

Her appeal was backed by coroner Michael Singleton, who called for the driver or anyone who knew the person responsible to come forward.

"I am sure it would afford some considerable comfort to Mrs Metcalfe if she could better understand what happened on that night," said Mr Singleton.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing there was only one witness to the incident and extensive police inquiries had failed to find either the car or the driver involved.

Mr Singleton said he could not be certain on the evidence available that it amounted to unlawful killing.

He explained: "I can't be sure that the driving could be said to be dangerous. It may be that further evidence ultimately comes to light with regard to the state of the driver and the vehicle."

The inquest heard that Mr Metcalfe was leaving the Hare and Hounds with his pal Michael Ashby at about 3am on Sunday 18 January.

Mr Ashby, of Harvey Street, Oswaldtwistle, was in tears as he re-lived the last minutes of his friend's life.

As they left the pub and crossed Blackburn Road, Mr Ashby became aware of a car coming from the Blackburn direction. At first it was on the correct side of the road but then seemed to veer to the other side.

"I remember shouting to Shaun to run because I thought the car was going to hit us," said Mr Ashby. "The next thing I saw was the car coming over Shaun. It stopped about 25 to 30 yards away, reversed five or 10 yards and then drove off."

He said that despite the vehicle passing within two or three yards of him, he was unable to identify what type or make it was.

"All I ever do is look at car lights, trying to picture what kind of car it was," said Mr Ashby. "All I see when I close my eyes at night are those reversing lights. I have nothing else on my mind."

Police accident investigator Timothy Hogan said the impact had occurred close to the centre of the road and at the time Mr Metcalfe had been lying on the floor.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death as multiple injuries. Tests showed Mr Metcalfe had a blood-alcohol level of just over three-and-a-half times the legal drink-driving limit.