A bus driver has told of the final seconds as he battled to stop his out-of-control vehicle careering into a group of people waiting at a stop.

But his efforts to stop the single-decker failed and it ploughed into the shelter where 12 passengers were waiting.

Pensioner Iris Sawyer died in the accident outside the County Mall in Crawley on March 10. Several others were injured.

At an inquest into the death of 71-year-old Mrs Sawyer, PC Nigel Harwood, of Sussex Police crash investigation unit, read out a statement by bus driver James Broderick.

He said: "I knew immediately there was no way I could stop the bus.

"At the next bay in front of me was a double-decker. The engine was screaming and the bus was going up on to the pavement.

"I was literally standing on the brake to try to stop it.

"It (the bus) hit the kerb and the front of the bus went up in the air. As the double-decker was parked 12 to 15ft from where I was, all I could do was turn it into the side of the bus.

"The bus I was driving then bounced back into the double-decker again. By then, the bus was going through the shelter, destroying it.

"I could hear people screaming and saw them disappear under the bus."

The inquest, at Haywards Heath Town Hall, heard Mrs Sawyer, of Furzefield, Crawley, was found under the single-decker bus by the emergency services. She died at the scene.

Rosemary Padley told the inquest that she and Mrs Sawyer, who died from chest injuries, were in a queue to get on a bus to Brighton.

People were boarding the double-decker when the bus came up behind and on to the pavement where the group was standing.

Mrs Padley, who was injured in the crash, said: "As I started to move down with the other people, the only thing I was aware of was the dreadful noise of a bus.

"I was then flung over on to my left side. I could feel the single-deck bus scrape past me."

Mrs Padley was taken to New East Surrey Hospital in Redhill and was told about Mrs Sawyer's death later that day.

Paul Young was the driver of the double-decker bound for Brighton at about 9.05am.

He said: "I felt an impact to the rear of my bus. I heard a crashing of glass and the bus swayed. I looked over my shoulder and saw a single-deck bus going down the side of my bus and scraping it.

"It continued past my bus and into the bus shelter. I saw people being thrown about and the bus crashed into the wall of County Mall. I was so shocked."

The crash is under investigation by Sussex Police.

Mr Broderick asked to speak at the inquest.

He said: "I feel the relatives and friends who have attended this inquest should know a bit more than they do now."

He brought with him a folder which he said listed 80 similar incidents. He said there was an intermittent problem with that type of bus.

In his conclusion, PC Harwood said: "No causative or contributive defects were apparent with the vehicle."

Coroner Roger Stone said: "This has been a tragic incident, whatever the circumstances. An elderly but lively-minded lady has died as a result."

Mr Stone recorded a verdict of accidental death.