A PUB landlady and her partner died after a bee flew inside their car and caused them to crash into an isolated tree, an inquest heard.

Hilda Hargreaves and Kenneth Jones, of Lee Road, Nelson, were heading to the Yorkshire Dales when the crash happened at a bend on the A682, near Gisburn, on July 16. The retired pair formerly ran Colne's Hole in The Wall pub, in Market Street, for almost 20 years.

Mrs Hargreaves, 83, was a former president in the Licensed Victuallers Association at Burnley, Nelson and Colne. She ran Burnley's former Prince of Wales pub in the 1960s.

Mr Jones, 92, was a butcher with Wilkinson's in Colne before meeting Mrs Hargreaves at The Hole In The Wall. The inquest was told they became a couple but never married. They enjoyed summer days out but stuck to country roads, as Mrs Hargreaves disliked busy motorways. Mr Jones did not drive.

Witnesses Brian and Maureen Bowe, of Paythorne, recalled watching the couple's Peugeot 205 swerve on and off the road, before accelerating and hitting a tree, near Newsholme.

Mrs Bowe said: "The impact was heavy and the car came to a stop. I could see blood on the driver's face. She was conscious and complained of chest pains. She asked me to remove her seat belt and slacken some restrictive clothing. The male passenger also complained of chest pains. He said 'it was a bee -- a bee in the car'."

Mrs Hargreaves was flown to Preston Royal Hospital, where she died the same day from multiple chest injuries. Mr Jones was taken to Burnley General and died on August 2, also from chest injuries.

Police investigations showed the car was fit for the road and recently serviced. Driving conditions were good and the weather was sunny.

Mrs Hargreaves's brother, Derek Gregson, of Carr Hall, Barrowford, said : "Ken said a wasp or a bee flew into the car and he waved a tissue at it. It landed on Hilda's chest and he passed her the tissue. And that's the last he could remember."

He said Mrs Hargreaves late husband, Leonard, who died in 1978, was a former printer who helped Mrs Hargreaves running pubs and enjoyed success with darts teams.

Recording accidental death verdicts, coroner Michael Singleton said the accident was tragic and bizarre.

"Had Mrs Hargreaves driven three feet in either direction, there would have been a minor accident but it is unlikely any serious injuries would have been sustained."