A former Lady Mayoress and university lecturer was tragically killed in a freak traffic collision after she stepped into the path of a van.

Anne Seller had just been shopping at Waitrose in Canterbury before the incident a short distance away on the A257 St George's Place.

After she left the supermarket on November 11 at 5.30pm, witnesses had seen the 79-year-old former University of Kent philosophy lecturer attempting to cross the road.

But rather than using the pedestrian crossing opposite the store, she was spotted metres away from it and was reported to be "hurrying".

She was struck by a Ford Transit Connect moments later after witnesses described her "suddenly appearing in the road".

An inquest yesterday at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard how the driver had applied emergency braking and was driving either at or slightly below the 30mph speed limit.

The van did not have any defects to it which would have caused the tragic incident.

The traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing a short distance away from the collision had been on green and were fully operational when tested by police.

Officers said the Transit van would not have had time to stop before colliding with Anne and the collision was "unavoidable".

The inquest was told how she had a history of dementia, anxiety and depression - but these were not named as contributory causes of her death.

Instead the cause of death was multiple injuries with coronary heart disease as a contributing factor.

It is not known why she had not used the pedestrian crossing and had instead been seen towards the south-east side of it.

In a statement released last November, the former Lady Mayoress' family says she will be sorely missed.

"After obtaining her degree at Leeds University, Anne spent her entire career as a philosophy lecturer at Kent University," the statement reads.

"She was very much involved in the local community and was the Lady Mayoress in Canterbury 2001/2.

"When she retired, Anne obtained a degree in art and used her talent to involve children in projects, both at the Cathedral and latterly at St Paul's Church, where she was an active member.

"Anne sang in many choral works with the Amici Chorus for several years.

"She was a much loved family member who will be sorely missed by all that knew her."

Anne is survived by her brother, John, two nieces, a nephew and four great-nieces.

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