A driver has admitted causing the death of an elderly cyclist who was hit by his lorry and dragged underneath it.

William Magee, 59, denied causing the death of Barbara Phipps by dangerous driving and was due to stand trial later this month.

But he today pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving at Maidstone Crown Court and it was accepted by the prosecution.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor said Mrs Phipps’s family had been consulted about the decision not to proceed with the more serious charge.

The 73-year-old victim, from Lynsted, was struck by the lorry outside the Co-op in London Road, Teynham, on February 13 last year.

The fatal accident was captured on CCTV, said Mr Taylor, and showed the moment of impact and Mrs Phipps being dragged under the lorry.

“It is the best evidence of what happened,” he added. “This was driving falling not far short of dangerous driving.”

Magee, who was in a Co-op lorry, carried on driving after the accident and was charged with failing to stop.

But Mr Taylor said it was no longer the prosecution case that he deliberately failed to stop and the charge would be dropped.

Magee, of Readers Court, Chelmsford, Essex, was said to have had a “long and distinguished driving record”.

Judge Martin Joy adjourned sentence for reports until March 3. Bail was continued and Magee was given an interim driving ban.