A PENSIONER died after he was in an accident with a pedal cyclist out training for a charity ride.

It was revealed that the cyclist has since been reported by police for careless cycling and is due to appear before Bolton magistrates in February.

An inquest in Bolton heard how Lewis Robb, aged 78, and his wife, Brenda were attending a car boot sale at Blackrod in June.

The couple, from Beehive Green, Westhoughton had parked their car in a lay-by next to the A6 Blackrod bypass.

Mrs Robb crossed the road to the field where the sale was being held while her husband, a retired sheet metal worker, locked up their car and followed her.

But as he was part way across the road he was in an accident with pedal cyclist David Hindley, from Hindley who was with his teenage son, Neil training for a charity Land's End to John O'Groats bike ride.

Mr Hindley told coroner Martin Coppel that he was cycling at about 15mph and had positioned his cycle on the road to go around the pedestrian.

But he claimed the pensioner "suddenly and unexpectedly" turned back the way he had come and although he braked and called a warning there was no time to avoid a collision. He did not believe Mr Robb had heard or seen him.

Mr Hindley, who suffered a dislocated shoulder and grazing in the accident, added that no warning bell or hooter was fitted to his racing cycle but stressed that that was not unusual. "If you take 100 cycles from a collection of cycling clubs on a Sunday afternoon I am convinced none of them would have bells on them," he added.

A bell is not a legal requirement on a push-bike.

But Mr Hindley's version of the accident was disputed by witness Mr Harris Possible who said that he did not see the bicycle brake and Mr Robb did not turn back towards the lay-by before he was hit.

Another witness had been passed by the cyclists seconds earlier as they travelled down Blackrod Brow on to the A6 and estimated their speed to be 30mph.

Mr Robb was taken to Chorley Hospital and then transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital with a fractured skull but died a day after the accident.

Mr Coppel recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Robb's son, Arthur said that when he was first told about his father's accident he assumed it was a motorbike involved, not a cycle.

"I just couldn't believe it," he said.

He called for legislation to force cyclists to be insured on the roads like cars, lorries and motorcycles. He also called for cycles to be fitted with bells. Pensioner Lewis Robb

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