AN elderly woman who had become distressed by a memorial service for the victims of the American terrorist attacks was hit by a car as she left.

Hilary McAulay , of Winslow Avenue, Droitwich, died from head injuries after a car reversed into her near Victoria Square in Droitwich, an inquest heard.

Mrs McAulay, an 80-year-old retired shop cleaner, was only nudged by the car as it reversed, but it was enough to make her lose her balance. She banged her head on the floor when she fell.

The inquest at the Guildhall in Worcester yesterday heard that paramedics did not think her injuries were life-threatening, but her condition deteriorated.

The collision happened when Mrs McAulay left the service, which took place by the war memorial in Victoria Square.

Coroner Victor Round said a friend of Mrs McAulay, Constance Langeard, noticed that she had become upset by the ceremony.

She said it had reminded her of her son, who had been killed in action serving in the Navy during the Falklands War. She said she told her to go home.

Witnesses described seeing Mrs McAulay crossing the road by Victoria Square as Philip Rhodes, from Droitwich, reversed his car slowly to allow another driver out of a parking space.

They said the driver should have been aware that she was crossing, but that Mrs McAulay should have seen that he was reversing.

Mr Rhodes told police he did not know if he had hit her because he did not hear anything.

Pathologist Paul Dunn, who carried out the post mortem, said she died from multiple bruises inside her skull, which was fractured in the accident.

The accident happened on Friday, September 14 last year. Mrs McAulay died on Sunday, October 7, at Ronkswood Hospital.

Mr Round recorded a verdict of accidental death.