A drink driver who killed an 81-year-old man in a hit-and-run has been jailed.

Dean Reynolds, 49, was more than twice the legal limit when he struck pedestrian Ronald Bird on June 26 last year.

That day Mr Bird had left his home in Lee-on-the-Solent to post a letter before crossing Marine Parade West to walk along the seafront.

He was struck in the carriageway by the grey Ford Transit driven by Reynolds, who did not stop at the scene.

The pensioner was taken to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries where he died on July 28.

Witnesses took photos of the Transit van as it left the scene which helped officers locate it at Pinkmead Farm in Curdridge an hour later with Reynolds in the driver’s seat.

He provided an alcohol breath sample of 75mg of alcohol per 100ml of breadth, more than double the legal limit.

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Reynolds, of Merstone Road in Gosport, jailed for six years and disqualified from driving for ten years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Cate Paling, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Reynolds must have drank a substantial amount of alcohol prior to driving that day if he was still that much over the limit so long after the collision.

"I want to thank the members of the public who took pictures of the van so we were able to track Reynolds down so quickly and secure vital evidence.

"Drink driving is completely unacceptable and can lead to devastating consequences such as the serious injury or death of innocent people like Mr Bird.

"Please think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. You could easily use other means of transportation that don't put people's lives at risk and there is no excuse for it.

"All our thoughts are with Mr Bird's family."