A MOTORIST has been fined for knocking down an elderly woman with his van.

Mr Liam Trotter, 29 of Preston Old Road, Blackpool, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention at Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard that at 10am on September 5 last year, Trotter was driving a Palmer Deliveries van towards Duke Street on his way to the town hall in Barrow.

He struck Ms Moyra Satterthwaite, who was 89 at the time as he was rounding the corner onto Cornwallis Street.

In a statement to PC Latham at the time Trotter said: "The lady just stopped suddenly and I clipped her with my wing mirror. I did put my brakes on but I did not have time to stop. I just tipped her over."

Ms Sattherthwaite, who is hard of hearing and of limited mobility, suffered a bang to the forehead and both knees.

She was immediately taken to Furness General Hospital where she stayed for 15 days as a result of her injuries and is still undergoing physiotherapy.

The court heard that there were buses parked on either side of the road and Trotter was driving at a speed of around 5mph.

An eye witness who was standing at a bus stop on the opposite side of the road said: "I thought the van had to stop because she fell. It's a busy road and it nearly happens all the time. She was spritely. She came from nowhere."

Mr Didsbury, defending said: "Accidents can happen but what we have here is that for whatever reason this lady appears to have got into this situation instantly."

Mr Lee Dacre of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "It takes time to cross that wide road so you would have had time to see her."

Trotter will receive four penalty points on his licence.

The court has ordered him to pay a fine of £150 with costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £30.