A PENSIONER who died after his car was in collision with a double-decker bus had been to buy his wife flowers for their wedding anniversary.

Mr John Moore (81) and his German-born wife, Elke (79), were due to celebrate 55 years together the day after the accident, in Bury New Road, Whitefield, on December 19.

Mr Moore, of Alexandra Drive, was travelling from Prestwich when he turned right into Victoria Lane. His Skoda, which also contained his pet Cairn Terrier, Holly, was in collision with the Manchester-bound bus and both vehicles ploughed into the Beehive Pub.

At the time of the accident, Mr Moore's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. But his condition deteriorated and he remained in North Manchester General Hospital until his death on Saturday (Jan 11).

Recalling the day of the accident, his wife, who is disabled due to breathing problems, said: "We rarely went out separately but it was our anniversary the day after, and I went to Bury using the Ring and Ride service. On the way home, I heard on the radio there had been a crash and as we neared home, I could see the police, fire and ambulance vehicles on the main road. I didn't think anything of it until I got home and my neighbour had Holly."

Mrs Moore, who used to work at Prestwich Hospital as a ward sister with her nurse husband, kept a bedside vigil and travelled on her motorised scooter to visit him on Christmas Day.

The pair met in Germany just after the war when Mr Moore was serving in the Army and his Elke was working with the British Red Cross.

They married at St Peter's Church, Middleton, and had lived at their Whitefield home for more than 40 years.

Mr Moore was a keen gardener and model railway enthusiast and the couple enjoyed many caravanning holidays together.

Mrs Moore said: "We had no children together but all the children round here called him their 'Grandad'. He was always out walking Holly and she has been pining for him."

Mr Moore's funeral will be held on Monday (Jan 20) at 1.30pm at Agecroft Crematorium.