An inquest at Crewe heard yesterday, Tuesday, how Frank Gilbert, aged 81, of Beeston Street, was spotted walking towards Manchester on January 20 this year.

He eventually reached Tabley shortly after 5pm. Suddenly, and without warning, the retired welder tried to cross the busy road without watching the traffic, the inquest heard.

He managed to cross two lanes and was narrowly missed by two cars. He carried on without stopping or looking before colliding with a white Hyundai Accent.

Mr Gilbert hit the windscreen, was thrown into the air and landed on the carriageway. He died at the scene.

Brian Gilbert, the pensioner's son, from Whitchurch, said his father walked three or four miles a day from his home - usually towards Hartford or Davenham.

He could offer no explanation why his father was so far from home, but told the inquest his dad had become confused during the past year.

The driver of the Hyundai, 68-year-old Brenda Garner, of Weaverham, who was driving towards Northwich, said she remembered seeing a red car overtake her before suddenly seeing its brake lights go on.

Cheshire coroner, John Hibbert, who returned a verdict of accidental death, said: "The mystery is we don't know why Mr Gilbert was there. We don't know why he was crossing the road so far away from home. But he was there, he did cross the road and he was clearly not watching the traffic."

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