A DRIVER who hit a pensioner on a pedestrian crossing could have been blinded by the sun, an inquest heard.

Isabella Moorhouse, 77, died from head injuries after her electrically-powered buggy was hit by a car in Kirkby Stephen on December 9.

Eden coroner Ian Morton, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, heard that, on the morning when 74-year-old Kirkby Stephen man John Mawson hit Mrs Moorhouse, the sun was strong and low with dazzling brightness off the damp roads.

Witness Sally Simpson told the inquest she saw Mrs Moorhouse using the ramp down to the crossing on Market Street.

"She was coming on to the crossing when the vehicle hit her." She added: "He didn't seem to hit her with any great speed and she just toppled over."

Investigator PC Kevin French said it was likely that Mr Mawson had driven through a red light at the crossing. "The sun was in such a position it would have affected visibility for drivers," he said.

The inquest heard that, during a police interview at Kirkby Stephen, Mr Mawson said he had struggled to see for the sun.

"I was watching up the street, straight in front of me and the sun just blinded me and she just came like that." He added: "She just came from nowhere."

Speaking through tears, Margaret Carruthers said her mother had been using a buggy since 2000 and was always very careful and only crossed the roads at pedestrian crossings.

Summing up, Mr Morton said: "The tragedy of the accident is the very clear picture we have of Mrs Moorhouse proceeding with extreme caution using the pedestrian crossing, making sure the lights were red and doing everything by the book.

"Suddenly, at that critical moment, Mr Mawson may well have been focusing on where he was going to park or was dazzled by the sun and an accident with tragic consequences occurred as a result."