A DISABLED pensioner died from a haemorrhage after being knocked from her wheelchair by a reversing van, an inquest found.

MS sufferer Margaret Francis, 70, of Westrop, Corsham, was at Whitehall Garden Centre in Lacock on October 4 when the accident happened.

Deputy Wiltshire coroner William Bache delivered a verdict of accidental death on Thursday.

Mrs Francis was a keen gardener and had been taken to the garden centre by her carer Nina Goerzel.

The pair arrived at Whitehall at 10.50am and spent 40 minutes shopping. Because the purchases, which included bags of soil, were bulky, Miss Goerzel left Mrs Francis in her wheelchair on the pedestrian area outside the shop's exit and pushed the trolley back to her car. While Miss Goerzel was loading the car, a Renault Traffic Master van belonging to Swindon courier firm Interlink Express reversed into Mrs Francis' wheelchair and she was thrown to the ground.

Eye witness Lilian Baker told the court: "As the van reversed I could not see any hazard warning lights or hear a beeping noise. Mrs Francis began to hit the near side rear door of the van. She wasn't hitting it very hard."

Robin Spring, a security officer at Whitehall, said: "I suddenly heard a very loud bang that sounded like metal hitting metal."

Mrs Baker got out of her car and went to help Mrs Francis. She said: "She was lying on the paved area with her head on the ground and complained of having a head ache. She said she was suffering from MS."

Miss Goerzel told the court how van driver Sheila Curtis appeared to be in shock at what had happened.

"She said I'm so sorry, I didn't see you," Miss Goerzel recalled.

Whitehall manager John Snell told police: "In all the years I have been at the centre I've never seen anyone so upset."

Ms Curtis told police: "I walked around the van and saw nothing. While reversing I saw a pair of legs from the knees downwards."

The court heard that Ms Curtis had made a phone call and lit a cigarette in the van before reversing.

Witnesses told how Mrs Francis did not appear to be badly injured. She agreed Miss Goerzel should take her to her GP, Dr David MacArthur at The Porch Surgery in Corsham.

Mrs Francis complained of having a splitting head-ache. Dr MacArthur examined her straightaway and although there was no obvious sign of wounding said she should go by ambulance to the RUH in Bath.

Surgeons operated on Mrs Francis at the RUH before she was transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol later that day. Mrs Francis died in Frenchay's intensive care unit on October 9.

Dr Tim Moss, consultant neuropathologist at French-ay conducted an autopsy on Mrs Francis the next day and found that she had died of a subdural haemorrhage.

Mr Bache said: "It seems likely there she received a bang on the head on October 4 and it led to the symptoms of the haemorrhage and in due course to the death of Margaret Francis."

Mrs Francis' son, Simon, said he had no comment to make on the verdict of accidental death.