A JURY trying a woman accused of pushing a 76-year-old woman downstairs has failed to reach a verdict.

Anne Jones denied inflicting grievous bodily harm and, after seven and a half hours of deliberations, the jury said it had been unable to agree a verdict.

Jones, aged 46, of Castle Street, Tyldesley, was further remanded on bail until March 24, when a judge will be told whether there is to be a re-trial.

During the five-day trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Ruby Ganley suffered a broken wrist and fractured shoulder after being allegedly pushed down the stairs leading to the toilets at the Peake Fitness Social Club in Leigh.

Frances Hertzog, prosecuting, said Mrs Ganley and Jones were in the toilets after problems upstairs with Jones and a male friend making a nuisance of themselves.

In the toilet area, Jones insulted her and, when Mrs Ganley tried to get past her at the top of the narrow staircase, she “said something to her and violently pushed her with both hands to the upper part of her chest.

“This unfortunately caused her to fall backwards down that short flight of stairs.”

Jones told police Mrs Ganley must have been drunk and had fallen downstairs and injured herself.

She told the court she had not pushed Mrs Ganley and had not seen or heard her fall. She had just put her hand on her shoulder after she grabbed her hair and said: “Just leave it.”