AN INQUEST into the death of a Pershore man who died after he was hit by a car on the outskirts of the town has recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Wayne Palfrey, a keen angler, of Head Street, Pershore, died after he was hit by a car on the B4084 Worcester Road on the outskirts of the town at about 10.50pm on Friday, March 14.

Speaking at an inquest into Mr Palfrey’s death at Stourport Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, July 16, his brother Mark said the 52-year-old suffered from bipolar disorder.

But he said on the evening of March 14 he had seen his brother in the New Inn in High Street, Pershore, and he seemed to be in very high spirits.

“He was in the best mood I had seen him in for a long time,” he said.

Mr Palfry added his brother had left the pub between 9.30pm and 10pm and he assumed he was going home.

Mr Palfrey was hit by a car travelling on the B4084 into Pershore.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he died the next day.

After his death, his family described him as a nature loving person who kept people cheerful with his smile and humour.

The former Pershore High School and Pershore College of Horticulture student was a keen angler, winning several trophies.

He volunteered at the Blue Cross charity shop in Pershore and had also sponsored four dogs at the Dogs Trust in Wickhamford, Evesham.

He died after suffering extensive brain injuries in the collision.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, senior coroner for Worcestershire Geraint Williams said he did not believe the evidence presented at the inquest suggested Mr Palfry had intended to kill himself when he stepped into the road.

“This was simply a tragic accident,” he said.