James Mulligan was hit by the car as he waited at a bus stop

The family of a man who was killed by a hit-and-run driver is delivering a petition to Downing Street to try to change the law.

Jimmy Mulligan, 73, died when he was hit by a car as he waited for a bus near his home in High Heworth, Gateshead, on 1 May 2002.

His family want Tony Blair to close a legal loophole which let the driver escape prosecution.

The police arrested two young men shortly after the incident, who admitted being in the car.

But police were unable to charge either man because they could not prove which one was behind the wheel.

Woman injured

Mr Mulligan's family have collected 8,000 signatures on a petition.

Mr Mulligan's son Keith said: "They both admitted being in the car at the time of the accident.

"Both are blaming each other for actually driving the car when the accident occurred.

"So basically there is a loophole in the law if they are both blaming each other, there should be a law fetched out where they should both be held responsible."

The family is being accompanied to Downing Street by Joyce Quin, MP for Gateshead East and Washington West.

Mr Mulligan's friend Ivy Clarke, 83, was also injured in the incident.