A Blackpool tram driver who was three times over the 4mph speed limit when he struck and killed a pensioner was jailed for 15 months today.

Holidaymaker Maureen Foxwell, 70, was celebrating her wedding anniversary with husband Barry, 70, when she was knocked down by the tram on the resort's Promenade in August last year.

Mrs Foxwell, from Caerphilly, South Wales, suffered a fractured skull and chest injuries and died a month later.

Tram driver Paul Edensor, 36, of Alexander Road, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court today after he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving last month.

Kirsten McAteer, for the prosecution, told the court that Mrs Foxwell was walking over a tram crossing with her husband when Edensor's blue double-decker tram failed to stop and ran into her.

The barrister said the couple, who were on the sixth day of their holiday, were intending to catch a tram at the Norbreck stop to head into the town centre.

They had been staying at the nearby Norbreck Castle Hotel to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

As the couple approached the crossing, they saw a group of people waiting at the tram stop on the other side of the road and watched as Edensor's tram approached.

Expecting the tram, operated by Blackpool Transport, to stop for the waiting passengers, they crossed the tram lines.

But Edensor, who had become a tram driver only two months earlier and had already been disciplined for his speeding, ignored the waiting passengers and carried on driving.

Ms McAteer said: "The rules of Blackpool Transport state that if there are passengers waiting at a stop, then the tram driver should stop to collect them.

"Anticipating the defendant would stop at the tram stop, Mrs Foxwell made her way across with her husband.

"However, the defendant did not stop, hitting Mrs Foxwell to the ground."

The prosecutor said tram regulations state that Edensor should have approached the tram stop and crossing at no more than 4mph.

Forensic examination of the tram and lines after the collision showed he had been travelling at between 13mph and 17mph.

"The defendant failed to see Mrs Foxwell and he failed to take appropriate action," she added.

The incident happened at around 10.10am on August 5 last year.

Ms McAteer, reading from Mr Foxwell's police statement, told the court that he and his wife approached the crossing "carefully" and he pointed out to his wife that the tram was approaching.

"He heard a single blast of the horn as the tram came past him," she said.

"He looked behind and saw his wife face-down on the ground with blood coming from her mouth.

"The tram came to a stop and he saw the driver emerge looking flustered and saying he didn't have time to stop."

Paramedics called to the scene found Mrs Foxwell unconscious and with serious facial injuries and a collapsed lung.

She was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital before being transferred to a hospital near her family home in South Wales, where she died of complications caused by her injuries, the barrister said.

Edensor had started his job about two months earlier but had been noted for approaching crossings and bends in the track at high speeds.

His bosses also became aware that he was not stopping to collect passengers when he should have been so his driving was placed under covert surveillance.

He was also spoken to about his standard of driving, Ms McAteer said.

After the death of Mrs Foxwell he was sacked by Blackpool Transport.

Edensor had 12 previous convictions relating to 23 offences, Ms McAteer said.

None of them related to driving offences, although he was given three penalty points on his licence for speeding in February 2007.

Michael Hayton, in mitigation for Edensor, said the defendant was "remorseful" over what happened.

"He was spoken to, he was warned about his driving but he sadly failed to learn his lesson," Mr Hayton told the court.

"This is a particularly tragic case and the defendant offers his sincere and genuine remorse to all those who are related and close to Mrs Foxwell.

"He knows what he did was wrong."

Judge Pamela Badley was handed two victim impact statements from Mr Foxwell which were not read out in open court.

She said the statements disclosed that Blackpool had a "special resonance" for the couple and Mr Foxwell's loss was "very movingly" set out.

As Edensor, dressed in a pink shirt and tie, looked to the floor, Judge Badley told him: "What you did was drive through the crossing at three times the speed, contrary to what you had been trained to do.

"As a tram driver, you failed in your duty to ensure the safety of the public."

Edensor was jailed for 15 months and banned from driving for four years.

He showed no emotion as he was taken to cells, stopping at the door of the dock to speak briefly to a friend.

Mr Foxwell, who attended today's hearing supported by family and friends, appeared emotional as the details of his wife's death were recounted to the court.

He made no comment as he left the building.

Acting Sergeant Adam Lloyd, of Lancashire Police, who was the senior investigating officer, said: "The family are content with the sentence but in no way does that ease the pain of the loss of a mother and wife.

"The sentence reflects the speed of the tram and that the driver was careless.

"Edensor had been reprimanded with regards to speeding and did know the speed at which he should have been travelling and chose to ignore it.

"As a result he caused the death of a lady who was spending her wedding anniversary on holiday in Blackpool."