AN ELDERLY man has admitted causing the death of an 87-year-old woman who was struck by a reversing vehicle just yards from her front door.

Ann Lowrey, of Southbourne Road in Bournemouth, suffered head and chest injuries when she was involved in a collision with a Fiat Multipla on April 26.

She was taken to Poole Hospital, where she died of her injuries on May 2.

On Thursday morning, 77-year-old Lewis Thorne, who also lives in Southbourne Road, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to admit a charge of causing death by careless driving.

Prosecutors dropped a second charge of failing to stop after a road accident.

Thorne will return to the court in January to be sentenced.

Mrs Lowrey, a retired tax officer, had enjoyed her daily cup of coffee with son John, 64, before she was hit by the vehicle as she returned home.

Shortly after the collision took place, Mr Lowrey was about to leave the house he shares with wife Jacqui when a passer-by told them they'd be unable to move their car because of all the emergency service vehicles.

He told the Daily Echo in April: “They said there was a woman lying in the road.

“I just ran out and barged my way between the police and the paramedics. They were all trying to hold me back.”

Mr Lowrey, who formerly worked for the ambulance service, said his mother suffered multiple injuries to her legs, arms and fingers.

“She was just lying on the ground screaming because they were trying to straighten her out to get her onto the board,” he said.

“I just stayed with her until they took her into the ambulance. A policeman took me down to Poole Hospital to be with her.”

He was later told that, had Mrs Lowrey survived the collision, both of her legs and one of her arms would have been amputated.

"It has been so traumatic," he said.

An inquest was opened and adjourned in May.

Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin heard Mrs Lowrey was hit by a reversing car.