A DISTRAUGHT father re-lived a parent's worst nightmare when he told an inquest how his four-year-old daughter left his grasp and was killed after running into a busy road.

Jo-Anne Sainsbury died after colliding with a car, leaving the elderly driver no chance of avoiding her, the hearing at Burnley was told.

Michael Sainsbury, of Cooper Street, Nelson, told how he was taking Jo-Anne to the shops on the afternoon of April 15.

He saw a sign for free wood and took a large wooden frame. He held it with one hand and held Jo-Anne with the other.

When they got to Scotland Road he bent down and told Jo-Anne: "After this car has gone by we will cross the road.''

Mr Sainsbury said he was still holding the sleeve of her jacket. The next thing he knew there was a fluttering in the road and a bang.

He was not conscious of her pulling away. "All I saw was Jo-Anne running across the road and then the car bonnet. I just saw her disappearing under the bonnet. It all happened so quick," he added.

Pedestrian Ian Wainman of Highfield Crescent, Nelson, saw the accident. He said: "She just seemed to skip off the kerb for no reason. I didn't notice the car until that moment. She ran into the car and disappeared.''

Driver of the Toyota Corolla was retired electrician Clifford Ashworth, of Cloverhill Road, Nelson.

In a police statement he said he had held a driving licence for about 60 years. That day he was driving at about 25mph and slowing down.

He saw a man and small child on the side of the nearside pavement. He said: "I could not have been more than about a yard away when the child suddenly ran directly across the road in front of my car.

"As soon as I realised the child was moving I slammed on the brakes and I think I had just started to brake when I felt a bump."

Accident investigator PC Stuart Isherwood said the car was in good condition. Tests indicated the speed at the time of braking was not less than 22mph and at the time of impact it was 14mph.

He said in his opinion the accident was unavoidable and Mr Ashworth was faced with an impossible situation.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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