A RAMSBOTTOM bridegroom died seconds after he was hit by a car as he raced home to make preparations on his wedding day, an inquest heard.

Steven Hewart, 25, who had been staying at his father's home the night before, had nipped out on the day of the service to buy a last-minute present for his bride.

But on his way back to his father's house, on Bowker Street, Radcliffe, he was hit by a Renault Scenic people carrier as he dashed through stationary traffic on Pilkington Way, Radcliffe, on May 7 last year. He suffered fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.

His wife-to-be, Sarah Fielding, of Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, had already arrived at Bury Register Office with her bridesmaids, parents and guests, when she was told about the accident.

Describing the accident to Bury Coroner's Court, Bernard Cox, who had been standing at the pedestrian crossing with Mr Hewart, said: "The traffic lights were on green. Cars on the nearside of the road were in a stationary queue. The off-side lane was empty. Mr Hewart kept looking at the lights. He then ran through the first line of traffic. The next thing I saw, having heard a loud thud, was Mr Hewart flying through the air. A vehicle had hit him in the outside lane."

The driver, Julie Waterfield, later told police that she had no time to react.

Traffic officer PC Gillian Schofield was faced with the task of formerly identifying Steven and then telling Sarah.

A police investigation revealed no evidence of speeding.

Steven, a hire controller for a company in Trafford Park, was a former pupil at Hollins Grundy Primary and Derby High schools.

He met Sarah in September, 2001, and they became engaged in May, 2002, when she became pregnant with their son, Luca, now three. Sarah, who works at Whitton Dental Surgery, Rams-bottom, has changed her name by deed poll to Hewart and a trust fund has been set up for Luca and to celebrate Steven's life.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Simon Nelson said no one at the scene of the accident would have anticipated the consequences of Mr Hewart's actions.