Austin Barry Cooper, 31, of Severn Close, Peterlee, had been dropped off in a layby of the northbound carriageway, near Castle Eden, after finishing a shift of his new job.

He was struck by a van travelling in the right-hand lane.

Police and witnesses said driver Simon Rawson would have only had seconds to react, which would not have been enough to take action and avoid the accident.

An inquest into Mr Cooper's death, held at Darlington County Court, heard the tragedy happened on October 31 at about 6.30pm.

Although that section of the road is lit, Mr Cooper was wearing dark clothing and would not have stood out to passing motorists.

Mr Rawson said Mr Cooper had been in the middle of the road when he first saw him and tried to swerve to avoid a collision, but would have crashed into the central reservation had he steered away any further.

Mr Cooper's family asked several questions about Mr Rawson's use of a hands-free mobile phone kit, which he was using to talk to his business partner at the time of the accident.

However, Mr Rawson said it had not distracted him from the road and an investigating officer also said it did not play a part in the incident.

Coroner Andrew Tweddle said "It seems to me Mr Rawson had no chance at all, or such a small chance, to avoid collision."

Verdict: Accidental death.