A young driver who ran into a Peter Symonds' College student as he slipped while skylarking in the road has apologised to the youth's family.

Coroner, Grahame Short, recorded a verdict of accidental death on William Dyke (17), following the incident in the city centre on Saturday, December 2nd, 2000.

Thomas Hines-Dedman (22), of Cheriton, near Alresford, was driving a VW Golf GTI up the High Street in the early hours of the morning when he saw William and his friend, James Ruffell, in the road.

William fell as he tried to get out of the road, near the junction with Staple Gardens, and was hit by the car, which swerved towards him.

The teenager, a talented member of the college's first XI, died from multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, after being taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

During the inquest, Mr Hines-Dedman told William's family: "It's all so confusing. I'm very sorry for what happened. It was an accident. I can't stop thinking about it."

William's father, Brian Dyke, of Andover, told him: "Nothing can make things worse and nothing can make things better. We have all got to get on with our lives and so have you. We do not want any of this to blight our lives."

After the hearing, he said of his son: "He was very talented. He loved life and people loved him." William's brother, James (23) added: "He will be sorely missed."

Recording his verdict, coroner, Grahame Short, said: "I think Will was intoxicated and, I have to say, behaving in a foolhardy manner, but while that was quite apparent for some seconds, Mr Hines-Dedman failed to slow down sufficiently to take action.

"It might be that he saw Will move one way and then fell in front of him, back into his path, but I have to conclude the collision took place because the Volkswagen swerved onto the pavement."

Head of sports at Symonds', Dave Sanders said: "He was very special. He was one of the most popular in his year, talented at sports and academically. His death affected everybody."