MEMBERS of the family of a pedestrian who was killed by a speeding car say they are stunned that the driver escaped a custodial sentence.

Sixty two year-old bachelor Brian Keward died last November after being hit by a car as he walked home from spending and afternoon with friends.

Adam Isherwood , 22 of Higher Folds, Leigh, was fined £1,000 plus £200 prosecution costs when a jury at Liverpool Crown Court convicted him of driving without due care and attention.

Judge John Roberts said that resulted in the death of Mr Kewdard who was struck by Isherwood's car as he walked along Lord Street.

Mr Keward's cousin, Brenda Kedward-Jones who lives in Leigh and attended the trial, said: "Brian was very quiet and unassuming. He'd lived in Leigh all his life and looked after his late mother.

"Every day he used to walk into Leigh and on Saturday afternoons would meet his friends in The Musketeer.

"He was a decent, kind, caring, loving man who never had a bad word to say about anyone and would do anything to help people.

"When a child or adult is killed by a speeding driver, as Brian was, it should automatically carry a custodial sentence. The person responsible has not shown any remorse nor said he was sorry. He still has a future, all he left Brian with is a past."

And his brother Alan's reaction, when he heard the news at his home in New Zealand, was: "It would seem life comes extremely cheap in the UK."