A pedestrian who died crossing the road at an accident blackspot had spent the afternoon drinking with friends, an inquest heard.

Wendy Seabrook, 50, from Marina Court, Beach Green, Shoreham, was killed as she crossed the A259 Brighton Road to reach her local bus stop on Valentine's Day this year.

It happened days after another woman, 30-yearold Michelle Dever, died after she was knocked down on the same road and led to calls for improved safety measures.

But hearing evidence at Worthing Town Hall yesterday, Coroner Roger Stone said road conditions had been good on Valentine's evening and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The coroner said several factors had led to her death, including wearing black clothes on a dark night, lack of street lighting and the glare from headlights of cars travelling in the opposite direction.

He said the primary cause of death was Mrs Seabrook herself, as her high alcohol level of 149mg/100ml contributed to her impaired judgement as she crossed the road.

He said the level of ethanol in the blood was consistent with some intoxication, including impaired co-ordination, loss of selfcontrol, slurred speech, drowsiness and an increased risk of accident.

In evidence, Mrs Seabrook's only child, Luke, who was living with his mother at the time, said he had last seen her minutes before the crash.

He said she had met friends in the pub and returned home at 6pm in a hurry to get a bus to Brighton for a psychology class that evening.

He said: "She was an independent person, very reliable and cared a lot about her friends and me.

"She was interested in psychology and was a regular church-goer."

Joe Lambert, driver of the silver Volkswagen Golf, was interviewed on May 15.

He said he had been returning home from work in Hove and had not seen Mrs Seabrook until she was in front of his car.

He braked suddenly but she was thrown on to the windscreen before falling on to the road in front.

She later died at Worthing Hospital from multiple injuries. A cyclist at the scene said he also had not seen Mrs Seabrook until the crash.

Police Sergeant Arbuckle accepted their version of events.

Mr Stone said it was important to remember the dangers of alcohol on road safety, even when not commanding a vehicle.