A PARTIALLY-sighted woman died after colliding with a car while walking to a takeaway, an inquest heard.

Gillian Riley, 54, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, was crossing the road near her home at about 7.35pm on Thursday, October 9 when she was in an accident with a Honda Civic driven by Joyce Jones, 73, of Cedar Avenue, Rawtenstall.

Mrs Jones, who had 36 years accident-free motoring, told the court she was driving to see a friend in Haslingden when the accident happened.

She said: "The first time I saw Mrs Riley was when she was on the bonnet.

"She did not walk in front of the car, but hit the corner.

"I did not see her, I don't know why, but I didn't."

Police said Mrs Jones was driving below the speed limit of 30mph and that there were no defects with the car.

Mrs Riley, who was on her way to Nino's takeaway at the time of the accident, suffered head and pelvic injuries and was taken by ambulance to Fairfield General Hospital where her injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

Her condition deteriorated and she died from internal bleeding in the early hours of Saturday morning.

East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor said: "The tragedy is that this this was a journey Mrs Riley felt she could confidently take on a regular basis and which gave her a bit of independence.

"On this occasion things conspired against her, but this was purely an accident."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.