A MOTORIST who knocked down a Rossendale pensioner on a busy main road told an inquest: “I just didn’t see her”.

And collision victim Doris Kendrick, 87, informed onlookers she had not seen Thomas Ellison’s silver Vauxhall Corsa while trying to cross Bacup Road, in Waterfoot, Burnley Coroner’s Court was told.

Mrs Kendrick was “an independent and lively woman” who negotiated the traffic almost daily to reach a bus stop on the far side of the A681.

Neighbour Gwen Rawstron said: “It was really scary watching her cross the road but she did nearly every single day.

“There are a number of times when I would help her across the road myself.

"It is very difficult to get across to the bus stop. Doris was a very lively soul and always wanted to be doing something.”

Retired Mr Ellison was travelling towards Bacup when he noticed a bus in his rear view mirror.

He glanced in the mirror to check the position of the bus then was confronted by Mrs Kendrick.

Interviewed by police later, he said: “I looked forward and there was this lady there.

"She has just stepped out in front of me and I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t miss her.”

Eyewitnesses stopped to attend to Mrs Kendrick, who was partially-sighted and carrying a silver stick.

Barbara Desforges, who had been travelling toward Rawtenstall with her husband David, was first on the scene to comfort the OAP.

Mrs Desforges said: “She told me that she was partially-sighted and didn’t see the car.”

Mr Desforges said that from setting off from the side of the road, Mrs Kendrick could never have made it to the other side.

Following the incident, Mrs Kendrick, of Weber Street, Rawtenstall, was taken to Fairfield General Hospital.

She suffered a broken leg and pelvis and lost her life to broncho-pneumonia the following day.

Pc Richard Harrison, accident investigator, confirmed Mr Ellison would have been travelling around or under the 30mph speed limit at the time of the crash.

The inquest heard Mrs Kendrick may have emerged from the cover of trees before she was struck.

Recording a narrative verdict, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said the evidence was clear that Mrs Kendrick had not seen the car, and Mr Ellison had not spotted the deceased