FAULTY brakes did not cause an accident at Darwen bus station in which an elderly woman was knocked down, police investigators have revealed.

But officers are still carrying out their investigation into how the 83-year-old woman, who has not been identified, came to be injured.

They have ruled out brakes as being the cause, despite the bus company being pulled up about the problem by a government transport chief.

The woman suffered head and arm injuries in the accident, which happened as a double-decker bus was turning into the bus station on Thursday, May 13.

It came just months after Accrington pensioner Joyce Rigby died after being hit by a bus at Accrington bus station.

An investigation into the Darwen accident was launched by the police with the assistance of Blackburn Borough Transport.

But in a separate public inquiry, held last week, it was revealed the bus had brake and oil defects.

The public inquiry was called by the Traffic Commissioner for the North West, Beverley Bell, after concerns were raised about Blackburn Borough Transport's buses.

Its finances and the reliability of its services were also probed as part of an unrelated investigation.

It was revealed the bus company had put adequate systems in place to ensure that its vehicles were safe.

But the public inquiry was also told that the double-decker involved in the collision in Darwen in May had a loss of air in its braking system, as well as an oil defect.

But PC Matthew Leigh, who has been involved in the police accident investigation, today said: "These defects are not a contributing factor to the accident, nor are we looking at what happened from this angle.

"The investigation by the police with the assistance of the bus company, who are as eager as we are to sort this out, is still continuing."

The No 1 Darwen Circus bus had been turning into the bus station from Croft Street when the elderly woman stepped into the road.

A section of the bus station from Croft Street to Church Street was cordoned off by police vehicles until the woman was lifted into the ambulance.

The bus was removed for further inspection.

She is now recovering at home after spending time in Blackburn Royal Infirmary for her injuries, police said.