A jury has recorded a verdict of accidental death in the case of a man who died after being thrown out of a nightclub.

Michael Reynolds, who had been drinking heavily, suffered severe head injuries when he landed on the ground outside the Zap Club, on Brighton seafront, last May.

The 23-year-old printer, from Ruislip, London, died three days later at Hurstwood Park neurological hospital, Haywards Heath.

During a two-day inquest at Hove Crown Court the jury heard how Mr Reynolds was escorted from the club in Kings Road Arches, after he was seen by security staff rowing with his fiance Kate Mayhew.

Mr Reynolds, a head boy at his former school, became jealous when he saw his partner talking to another man.

The two doormen, Karl Lamley and Lewton Hoffeldt, who were employed by a private security firm, told the hearing Mr Reynolds became aggressive and was struggling and they used restraint techniques to escort him to the door.

But in the foyer one of the men accidentally stumbled, which caused Mr Reynolds to trip as he was going through the doorway. He landed outside the club and hit his head on the ground.

Police launched a major inquiry into the incident and the bouncers were arrested on suspicion of assault but officers found no evidence of any criminal offence and they were not charged.

An investigation was also held by Brighton and Hove City Council which revealed minor breaches in the conditions of the club's public entertainment licence.

The registration licence of three of the eight door supervisors working that night, including Mr Lamley, had lapsed.

There were also defects in the club's records of door supervisors. The council served an improvement notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the documents were completed to the satisfaction of the local authority.

The club's management said it had reviewed its practices and procedures following the incident. Improvements included new CCTV equipment.

After the verdict was announced Mr Reynolds father, Paul, who also lives in Ruislip, said: "It is the verdict we were expecting."