The family of a young mum and her 18-month-old son killed after being hit by a car driven by an 89-year-old have called for a law change for elderly drivers.

Jackie and Jayden Bloomer and driver Ernest Wray, all from Accrington, all died in the tragic road collision in the town centre in February.

Mr Wray lost control of his Rover 400 saloon as it mounted a pavement on Water Street and hit Jackie, 29, and Jayden before coming to rest embedded in a wall.

The inquest into the pensioner’s death found that the angina sufferer had a heart attack at the wheel. Accidental death verdicts were recorded for all three.

Jackie's parents Carol and Leonard Hinett believe that the accident would have been avoided if older drivers were retested as frequently as once every two years.

They said: "We strongly agree that drivers should have a retest every two or three years from the age of 70 whether or not they have got a medical condition, because as you get older your reactions aren't as quick.

"If there had been some sort of law for this then this accident could have been avoided.

"It has totally devastated all our lives and we just want people to know how we feel. We will never be the same people again."

At May’s inquest coroner Michael Singleton concluded that Mr Wray had been medically fit to drive at his age.

Currently all motorists over 70 have to complete a health questionnaire every three years, which Mr Wray had done truthfully.

It is recognised that drivers’ reaction times slow with age, but the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency cannot force drivers to retake their tests.

Mr Singleton concluded: "I have to consider whether the current system of the licensing of elderly drivers and those with medical conditions is sufficiently robust.

"It appears to me from the evidence I have heard that Mr Wray was legally and medically fit to drive."

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said it was important to strike the right balance between public safety and not penalising people.

He said: "We need to check the statistics on the number of times this occurs.

"On the one hand it was a real tragedy, but on the other hand a lot of people over 70 are safe drivers and have extremely low insurance premiums because of it."