A Ccrash witness told an inquest she was almost sick when she heard a car knock down a 93-year-old woman.

The woman, who was almost blind, was struck by the vehicle as she tried to cross a busy road, an inquest heard.

The horrific sound of the impact on the A27 Upper Brighton Road, Worthing, was described by witness Deborah Skeen.

Barbara Taylor, of First Avenue, Worthing, was crossing the road on December 12 last year when the accident happened.

She suffered serious injuries and died in Worthing Hospital two days later.

The inquest at Worthing Law Courts yesterday was told the pensioner had poor eyesight and used a white stick.

Eyewitnesses recalled seeing Miss Taylor step out of the central reservation and into the path of an oncoming Peugeot 205 driven by Samantha Lane from Hailsham.

Despite Miss Lane's efforts to brake, she collided with the pensioner who was thrown on to the car windscreen.

She told police afterwards that the pensioner seemed to appear from nowhere.

Mrs Skeen, from Shoreham, said seconds earlier traffic had stopped on the opposite side of the road so Miss Taylor could cross to the central reservation.

She said she saw the pensioner pause at the central reservation.

She said: "I saw her walk across the road and then I saw the car.

"I thought, 'Oh my God, she's never going to make it.' I heard a screech of brakes and I heard the impact. It made me feel sick."

PC Michael Scott, of Shoreham traffic unit, told the inquest Miss Lane had been driving within the speed limit when the accident happened.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, West Sussex Coroner Roger Stone said Miss Taylor might not have seen the car because of her eyesight.