SHOP bosses are calling for action to be taken at a dangerous junction in Bolton town centre.

People working near to the junction of Knowsley Street and Deansgate spoke out after a 78-year-old woman was knocked down by a bus on Friday.

The pensioner, who has not been formally identified, died of her injuries at the Royal Bolton Hospital, despite as desperate bid to save her.

Debbie Conway, who works in Sweetens bookshop, labelled the section of road a "death trap".

She said: "There have been a number of accidents because it is such a tight bend.

"The cars and buses just fly round, it is a death trap. Something needs to be done to make the road safer."

Janine Heapy, manager of Gibson's half price outlet, said: "It is a very dangerous road. Sometimes when you stand on the kerb you have to step back when buses come round the corner because they overhang. The road should be widened to make it easier for buses to turn."

Nadim Maqbool, owner of Plasma Direct, said: "There are traffic lights but it is still a bad corner. I think the whole road should be pedestrianised and that would prevent there being anymore accidents there."

The woman was hit by the Rossendale Transport bus at around 10.30am on Friday. She became trapped under the wheels and suffered serious head injuries. The area was sealed off and she was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital, but died on Saturday.

It is not yet known if she was standing on the pavement or whether she was crossing the road when the accident happened.

There have been a number of accidents at the junction in the last few years. One of the most serious involved a 54-year-old woman who was hit by a bus as she crossed the road in August 2006. She suffered serious injuries but did not die.

Transport bosses at Bolton Council have now vowed to investigate.

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council's executive member for environmental services, said: "As with any accident, whether it involves a pedestrian or a car, the important thing is to establish why it occurred.

"We will look into the circumstances and respond accordingly."

Anyone who witnessed the incident on Friday is asked to call the Area 1 road policing unit on 0161 856 7201.