A PENSIONER who died under the wheels of a minibus pulling out of a bus station was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.

Jenny Spedding, 86, suffered multiple injuries when she was dragged under the Arriva vehicle for half-a-mile through Durham City in February.

A file outlining North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle's decision has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which has already looked at police evidence for a possible prosecution.

The accident happened one lunchtime as the 44 service to East Hedleyhope pulled out of Durham's City's bus station on to North Road as Mrs Spedding was crossing the road carrying two shopping bags.

She was in the middle of the road but "disappeared", leaving only her two bags, when the bus passed her, witness Ann Stewartsaid.

Gordon Godona saw the accident as he sat in his parked car.

He told the Durham inquest that the bus edged very slowly out of the station, swinging out to avoid parked cars.

He said that it and Mrs Spedding seemed to meet, the pensioner touching the front of the vehicle with her hands before taking a step back.

When the bus accelerated Mrs Spedding, of Local Avenue, Sherburn Hill, County Durham, fell.

"The bus didn't hit her with any force to send her backwards. She fell to the side," he said.

The bus was eventually stopped a few miles away at Ushaw Moor.

Bus driver Robert Harvey, 61, of Langley Park, who has more than 25 years experience, said he started work at about 7am and had just had a break.

He declined to answer questions that might incriminate him.

PC David Weatherley said the bus's passenger windows and body were dirty but the windscreen was clean and there were no mechanical defects.

Mr Tweddle said: "I note what Mr Harvey said in his statement to police that he was concentrating on pedestrians crossing the road further up.

"I suspect he was concentrating too much on those other people crossing the road."

Mr Tweddle said he thought the evidence met the legal definition of dangerous driving, although he could not pin the blame on anyone.

Arriva said Mr Harvey was suspended and then retired in May of his own accord.