A frail widow who suffered from deafness was hit by a reversing lorry, an inquest heard.

Irene Booth, 82, from Small Dole, died when the heavy goods vehicle backed into her on October 1, last year.

Coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of accidental death at a hearing on Thursday.

Bus driver David Goble, travelling from the Holmbush Centre, in Shoreham, helped Mrs Booth off his bus seconds before the accident.

Mrs Booth was a regular customer and used to ask Mr Goble to stop at a lay-by further along from the Henfield Road bus stop in Small Dole because it was nearer her house.

Mr Goble said: "Small Dole is the first drop off from Tesco (at Shoreham).

"During the journey I came behind a lorry and followed it all the way to the lay-by.

"The lorry pulled up at the front of the lay-by and put its reversing lights and sirens on."

Mr Goble stopped at the back of the lay-by, helped Mrs Booth down the bus steps and gave her shopping bags to her.

Lorry driver Leigh Nicholls, 30, had wanted to check his load of plaster boarding because he thought some straps were loose.

Having looked in his mirrors, he reversed into the lay-by after the bus drove off and Mrs Booth was hit during the manoeuvre.

Mr Nicholls, from Worthing, said:

"There was nothing visible.

"I travelled about 4ft and felt some resistance.

"I got out the cab to check what it was and when I got to the back I saw what looked like a bag of clothes."

Dr Mark Appleton confirmed Mrs Booth died from chest injuries.

Iris Banfield, of Orchard Close, Small Dole, said Mrs Booth suffered from deafness and tinnitus.

She said: "She would not have heard reversing noises. Repetitive noise would be blocked out.

"She never drove and the reversing tones came in after she had anything to do with cars."

Coroner Roger Stone said: "She may not have heard the warning tones or may not have recognised what they were."