A LORRY driver killed a council worker when he failed to see his brightly-lit van parked at the side of a road in the New Forest.

Robert Murray died from multiple injuries after his yellow box van was struck from behind by a lorry which had been travelling in the same direction.

A Southampton inquest yesterday was told how the 66-year-old had pulled over on the unlit A35 between Lyndhurst and Ashurst Bridge at about 5.50am on October 1 last year.

It was the third time he had stopped to allow his colleague, Allen Amey, to pick up pieces of rubbish from the grass verge.

The hearing was told how it had been dark at the time but the pair's brand new box van would have been clearly visible, with its lights, hazards and a rotating beacon lamp on the roof.

In a statement, street cleaner Mr Amey, from Lyndhurst, who worked with Mr Murray, described how the pair had been travelling in a New Forest District Council van.

He remembered seeing his boss switch on the vehicle's beacon before he got out to pick up a Pepsi cola carton from the verge, leaving Mr Murray inside.

"I heard a very loud bang, quickly followed by the sensation I was flying," said Mr Amey, who needed hospital treatment for serious injuries.

"I think I may have passed out because the last thing I remember seeing was blue flashing lights.

"After a while, somebody found me and I remember having a collar put around my neck."

Mr Amey said his boss had stopped the van three times to pick up rubbish because they knew council inspectors were about and he wanted to ensure they did the best job possible.

Ex-firefighter Jeremy Coombs was first on the scene and found Mr Murray, of Northerwood Avenue, Lyndhurst, slumped in the driver's seat but could not feel a pulse.

After the crash, lorry driver Andrew Ellis, who had been travelling towards Southampton to make fruit and vegetable deliveries, was interviewed by police and said he had notseen the yellow van until it was too late to avoid it.

The hearing was told he had been travelling at about 60mph - above the 50mph limit for his type of vehicle.

Ellis, 35, has since pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, Southampton Coroner Keith Wiseman said: "It is apparent from the evidence given by Mr Murray's colleague in the van that this accident sadly occurred partly as a result of Mr Murray's meticulous carrying out of his duties.

"In terms of legal proceedings, although not yet sentenced, Mr Ellis has pleaded guilty to the very serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

"That, in effect, is an admission that he was grossly negligent on this particular occasion and leads me to a verdict that is more severe than in the case of many road traffic accidents."

Mr Murray's widow, Megan, who attended the inquest with the couple's children, other family members and friends, declined to comment afterwards.

Lorry driver Andrew Ellis, of Ensbury Avenue, Bournemouth, went on the run after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving on July 15.

The 35-year-old has since given himself up and is due to be sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on September 15.