A CORONER has halted an inquest into the death of a pensioner who was dragged under a bus, and took the rare step of sending the case back to prosecutors.

The inquest into the death of 86-year-old Jenny Spedding, was opened at County Hall, in Durham, yesterday.

Mrs Spedding, a widow from Sherburn Hill, Durham, is believed to have been caught under a wheel of an Arriva single-decker bus as it left Durham bus station, in North Road, in February.

She was carried until it made a right turn at traffic lights on Crossgate Peth, near St Margaret's Health Centre.

North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle reopened the inquest yesterday.

The inquest heard from consultant pathologist Dr Douglas Maloney, who said Mrs Spedding had died from multiple injuries and external and internal haemorrhaging.

Still pictures taken from security cameras, which captured the tragedy, were shown to solicitors representing the driver and Mrs Spedding's family.

But in an unexpected turn, Mr Tweddle then announced he was using his powers under section 28 of the Coroner's Rules to adjourn the case for at least 14 days, so "representations can be made to the Department of Public Prosecutions".

The legislation allows coroners to adjourn inquests if they feel evidence has been put before them that suggest murder, manslaughter, infanticide or an offence under the Road Traffic Act have taken place.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said they could not comment on the matter, as they had not yet received notification that the case was being referred back to them.

A file on the circumstances surrounding the death of the pensioner, of Local Avenue, was sent to the CPS several weeks after the accident, for consideration on whether the driver should face charges.

A police spokesman said: "The coroner has referred the case back to the CPS for reconsideration. That is for him and them to decide."