The case of a pensioner who died after her runaway scooter collided with a dog litter bin, may force a change in the design and maintenance of electric mobility buggies.

An inquest at Colchester Town Hall yesterday heard that Phyllis Woodmore, 82, of Mile End Road, Colchester, had a history of heart problems which made it difficult for her to walk.

Her husband of 38 years, Frederick Woodmore, took her to Clacton for a day out on July 25 last year. They had lunch and at about 2pm decided to make their way to the promenade.

Mr Woodmore got the nine-year-old scooter out of the car and assembled it on the grass.

In a statement read out to the court, Mr Woodmore said: "I'm sure the brake lever and brakes were on. It's never left off for any reason.

"The scooter is set at walking pace. We went across the greensward as normal. The scooter seemed to be reacting normally.

"She went down the sloping path to the lower promenade. My wife loves being by the seaside so she said we would go down the slope.

"She started to go faster than she normally did. I realised she was increasing speed all the time. I then thought 'she's out of control' and I started to run after my wife as fast as I could but I couldn't catch her.

"I realised that for some reason the brakes were not working."

He said there were two people standing at the bottom of the slope who did not get out of the way and Mrs Woodmore swerved to avoid them.

"She went to one side to get past them. She went into the opposite brick wall, into the dog waste disposal bin.

"The scooter turned 180 degrees and went on to its side. It threw her out."

Mr Woodmore added: "As I was waiting for the ambulance I moved the scooter. The brake lever was off in the free-wheel position."

Mrs Woodmore suffered multiple fractures and died on August 1 at Colchester General Hospital of pneumonia caused by the injuries.

The inquest heard that an alarm should sound if the brake lever is in the free-wheel position and the ignition is on.

But the inquest also heard a wire had worn away rendering the alarm inoperative so Mrs Woodmore did not know the braking system was effectively turned off as she headed down the one in eight gradient.

Caroline Allen, a medical device specialist at the Health department's Medical Devices Agency, said testing showed the fault was not in the design or manufacture of the scooter, but a wire had worn away a problem which would have been picked up if there had been regular maintenance.

She said the agency is campaigning to get emergency brakes fitted to all mobility scooters.

"I will be bringing this to the attention of the British Healthcare Trade Association and wheelchair manufacturers," she said.

Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002