A BUS driver has told how a mother-of-three walked out into the path of his car on the way to her second early-morning job.

Christine Duffy, aged 47, of Hillfield Drive, Tonge Moor, died at Royal Bolton Hospital in November last year after suffering serious head and chest injuries.

At an inquest into her death Keith Bakker said Mrs Duffy, a cleaner, had suddenly stepped in front of his blue Vauxhall in Crompton Way, giving him no chance to stop.

In was 6.30am and Mrs Duffy was on her way to her second cleaning job of the day at Firwood School having finished her first job cleaning Tonge Moor Library.

Mr Bakker was driving along Crompton Way on his way to work at the Blue Bus depot in Horwich when the accident happened near the junction with Firwood Lane.

He said: "She was walking along the pavement on my left hand side with her back to me. I was nearly next to her when she just stepped into the road.

"I hit the horn and swerved the vehicle at the same time but I was too close."

Alan Walsh, assistant deputy coroner, accepted Mr Bakker's evidence that he went through on amber and was driving at the speed limit of 40mph.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Walsh said: "It is a great tragedy that such an industrious lady in good health should die in this way."

Police had questioned Mr Bakker and no charges were brought but the inquest heard that he had not returned to driving work since the accident.

Mrs Duffy's distraught aunt Irene Kerrighan, who brought her up, wept in court.

She said: "I have to pass that spot each day and it's so difficult. She was just wonderful."