AN "error of judgement" by a motorist may have led to a tragic road smash which claimed her life.

A Burnley inquest heard how Mini driver Mrs Rita Bull, 54, died at a junction notorious for accidents -- but there had not been enough for it to be considered a blackspot.

Mrs Bull, a packer on a nearby industrial estate, was not wearing a seat belt when she was in collision with another car as she pulled out of Coal Clough Lane into Rossendale Road, Burnley, on February 2.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said although he did not think the junction inherently dangerous, motorists were perhaps not as prudent as they should be.

He said there had been accidents and he would be urging Lancashire County Council to consider making it a Stop rather than a Give Way junction.

Mrs Bull's husband James, who lived with her at Eton Close, Padiham, said his wife had left work just after noon to go and visit her brother in Barden Lane. He was later told of the accident and identified Mrs Bull to the police.

Pathologist Dr Abdul Al-Dawoud told the hearing, at Burnley Magistrates Court, Mrs Bull died of multiple injuries. He said although drivers should be encouraged to wear seat belts and Mrs Bull wasn't wearing one, he did not think it would have made any difference to the injuries she suffered.

He thought she would have died straight away.

The inquest heard of attempts by members of the public to help Mrs Bull.

Landlord Harold Bowers of the Coach and Horses, Church Street, Burnley, said he went to help Mr Peter Riley, the driver of a Mondeo, the other car involved in the accident. He told the hearing Mr Riley said: "She pulled out, she pulled out."

Mr Bowers said he had seen the Mondeo which was in front of him in Rossendale Road, swerve to the right and the Mini spinning in the road up the hill.

PC Karl Anderson who interviewed Mr Riley said the Mondeo driver told him all he could remember was the other car coming out of the junction quite quickly from the left. He did not think it was going to stop or that he had time to break. He thought he was travelling at 42mph, possibly 45mph on the 40 mph road.

Accident investigator PC Timothy Hogan told the inquest there were no defects on the road surface and it appeared there was little Mr Riley could have done to avoid the smash.

The officer said in his view, a "judgemental error," by the Mini driver appeared to have caused the accident.