A CORONER has called for organisers of Bromyard Gala to give consideration to pedestrians walking to and from the event following the death of a teenager.

Harry Brodie, aged 19, had been to the country show at Burgess Farm in Avenbury on June 24 last year and decided to walk back with his friends to Bromyard, which is more than a mile away.

An inquest at Herefordshire Coroner's Court heard that at around 6.30pm at the junction of the B4214 with the A465 Hereford to Bromyard road Mr Brodie tried to cross the A465 but was hit by a VW transporter. He suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene.

In a statement read to the inquest, chairman of Bromyard Gala, Steve Matthews, said they hired Forest Traffic Management for the event.

A 30mph temporary advisory speed limit and temporary traffic lights were put in place on the B4214 outside the gala's entrance and exit. There was also a free shuttle bus to take people to and from Bromyard.

Ian Connolly, from Leominster Police Station, attended a meeting before the gala to discuss the traffic management proposed. He said due to the distance of the gala from the town they decided there wouldn't be a lot of pedestrian traffic from the site.

There are no footpaths on the section of the B4214 by the gala or on the A465 where Mr Brodie died.

Coroner Mark Bricknell said: "It is difficult to balance the control of these events but I do think that the location of Bromyard Gala with its relative proximity to town does invite pedestrians to give consideration to walk to the event and from it and those attending the event may be under the influence of alcohol and/or relatively young and that being the case any future events at the gala should seriously consider concern for pedestrians between the town and the event."

Mr Brodie, of Stonehill Drive, Bromyard, was walking back with his friends, Ben Wood and Ryan Mitchell. They had been at the gala since around 2pm and had drunk beer. The shuttle bus was not available when they wanted to leave so they decided to walk.

When they reached the A465 they stood waiting to cross. Mr Mitchell said: "Without saying anything and to my surprise Harry started to sprint out into the main road."

Stephen Hotchkiss, driving a VW transporter, was travelling in the direction of Hereford when he saw the three men stood on the left-hand side of the road just past the B4214 junction.

He said: "It all happened very quickly. The next thing I know there was this impact."

Harry's dad, Ian Brodie, told Mr Hotchkiss at the inquest: "Don't blame yourself."

Forensic collision investigator, Neil Taylor, estimated that Mr Hotchkiss was driving between 53mph and 57mph and he would have had "insufficient time to react."

A post mortem revealed Mr Brodie had 89mg of alcohol in his blood which the coroner described as "modest" as the drink drive limit is 80mg per 100ml of blood.

Mr Bricknell said: "He enjoyed a drink which may have affected his decision making but he was not drunk and it appears there was a momentary lapse in concentration and he either misjudged the proximity or speed of the approaching VW."

He concluded Mr Brodie died as a result of a road traffic accident.