POLICE have launched a probe into the death of a pensioner who suffered serious injuries in a freak accident when her electric scooter fell on top of her.

Annie Neal, 89, of Bold Street, Accrington, received a fractured hip when she was pinned under the scooter on the pavement outside the Accrington Shopmobility shop in Whalley Road.

She was visiting the shop with her 93-year-old husband John, who also uses a scooter, when the tragedy happened.

Staff rushed to help the stricken mother-of-four, a former cook at Accrington Fire Station, as she lay on the floor in agony.

Paramedics rushed her to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where she died six days later.

East Lancashire Coroner Michael Singleton has now asked police to investigate the accident, which happened on Monday 4 April at 1.20pm.

Initially police were not made aware of the incident but they have now launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

According to PC Aidan Broughton, Mr Neal heard a "loud thud" behind him as he was walking into the shop.

He said: "He looked round and saw Annie's scooter on its side. He couldn't lift it up on his own. A staff member came to help him. An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital with a fractured right hip.

"We were not informed about the accident at the time, but the Coroner has asked us to carry out a full investigation. We would like anyone who saw the accident to contact us."

Police are now examining the scooter, a Rascal model, and looking at CCTV footage to shed further light on the incident.

PC Broughton added: "An accident investigator has been appointed and we have seized CCTV footage. We have also examined the scene and we are speaking to the staff at Shopmobility. The scooter is about three months old and was not from Shopmobility. It was her own."

Mrs Neal, a former weaver, was also a cook at Hill Top Home for the Elderly in Baxenden.

Apart from her husband, she leaves children Andrew, Marilyn, Peter and Paul, daughters-in-law Brenda, Dee and Rita and son-in-law John.

The Rev Simon Mansfield conducted a funeral service at Accrington Crematorium.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is urged to contact the road policing unit at Accrington on 353767.