A young family narrowly avoided being run over by a double-decker bus on a zebra crossing.

The near miss was almost a tragic rerun of the accident that claimed the lives of two other family members 38 years ago.

Crossing fear - Debby Strode with children Liam, 14, Jake, 5, Ashley, 6, and in the pram, Amy, safely cross Newland Street, where the near miss occurred Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON

Mum Debby Strode, 35, of Conrad Road, Witham, was crossing Newland Street in Witham, with her children, Liam, 14, Ashley, six, Jake, five, and Amy, four months, when the incident happened.

The family were using the zebra crossing outside the Battesford Court pub.

Mrs Strode said: "The cars had already stopped to the right of us. As we were crossing the road I looked left and saw a bus coming towards us.

"Liam was ahead of us, I shouted to him, he ran and we all ran and the bus driver slammed his brakes on.

"Afterwards, he just drove off. It shook me up and it shook my eldest up."

As the bus drove away, Mrs Strode noted its registration number.

It has not been confirmed which bus company owns the bus.

First bus company has agreed to see if it is one of its vehicles. If not, they will pass the complaint on to the relevant firm.

Mrs Strode said the incident, last Thursday, had particularly affected her family because her aunt, Ruth Silverlock, 67, of New Street, Halstead, lost two young sons in an almost identical set of circumstances.

The boys, Peter, seven, and Dennis, nine, both died after being hit by a bus on a zebra crossing near their former home in Stoke Newington, north London

Published Thursday, June 5, 2003

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