A MOTORIST has been found guilty of causing the death of a 61-year-old man by dangerous driving after knocking him down on a pavement.

And the family of victim Michael Parker said that although they were pleased with the verdict, it "in no way made up" for their loss.

Sajaad Munawar, 27, knocked down Mr Parker outside his home in Preston New Road, Mellor Brook, on November 11 last year.

A jury at Lancaster Crown Court returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Muna-war who denied the charges.

He will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on July 23.

Following the verdict, road safety campaigners were due to meet with county council transport chiefs to look at whether the speed limit could be reduced around the accident site.

Mr Parker died almost instantly from head and chest injuries when Munawar's Vauxhall Astra mounted the pavement at around 6am.

Mr Parker was helping to clear up car parts from an accident involving a silver BMW that occurred 50 minutes earlier. A recovery vehicle was parked in the road and Munawar chose to pass it on the left hand side bringing him in to fatal contact with Mr Parker.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation, which had been on hold for the trial, is now set to resume into why officers left the scene of the original accident before the vehicle had been recovered.

In a family statement after the trial, Mr Parker's family said: "We are very pleased with the verdict but, having said that, it in no way makes up for the loss of Michael.

"In some ways the verdict draws a line under the events of that day."

Munawar, of Deepdale Road, Preston, hailed from Pakistan and had been in the UK since 2006 studying to become an officer in the Pakistan merchant navy.

He has now had his driving licence taken from him and is on bail until sentencing.

The officer leading the investigation, Sergeant Dave Tonge of Lancashire Police, said he was pleased with the verdict.

He said: "The jury saw fit that this was a serious act he undertook.

"The other side is that the verdict will now see changes to the speed limit around the location of the accident which the residents have been campaigning for.

"It's just sad that the change should come at such a cost."

Road safety campaigners have long called for the speed limit on Preston New Road to be looked at, especially near to the built up area where Mr Parker died.

And Lancashire County Council confirmed they were due to liaise with campaigners and parish councils next month; discussions that could lead to new road markings and signs and the speed limit dropping from 50 to 40mph.