A BUS driver who ran over a pensioner at a danger junction "was not keeping a proper lookout", a court heard.

David Diggle told police he did not see 84-year-old George Ainsworth until after he had hit him at the junction of Knowsley Street and Deansgate in November 2013.

He was at the wheel of the First 501 service when it knocked the pensioner to the ground, running over his legs.

Footage of the moment the bus hit Mr Ainsworth on Friday, November 29, 2013, was played to the jury at Bolton Crown Court yesterday.

CCTV showed Diggle's bus having to slow almost to a halt to allow an Arriva bus travelling in the opposite direction to turn into Deansgate.

Diggle then moved off and swung round on to Knowsley Street, with one man jogging in front of the bus before Mr Ainsworth stepped into its path.

The court was told how the left side of the bus struck Mr Ainsworth, who suffered multiple injuries. He died in hospital two weeks later.

Andrew Brown, prosecuting, said: "David Diggle was interviewed by police and it is clear from what he first said when he realised that he had collided with the pedestrian that he had not seen George Ainsworth before the collision.

"He realised that the junction was a bad junction and the prosecution says that this fact in itself means extra care needed to have been taken."

Diggle also told police that he was also keeping an eye on the inside of his bus for cyclists passing.

Mr Brown added: "The crown's case is that this defendant's driving fell below that expected of a consistent and careful driver and as a result of his driving falling below that standard the collision occurred which caused the death of George Ainsworth.

"In effect, we say that he was not keeping a proper lookout or he would have seen George Ainsworth."

The jury will be taken on a site visit to the junction during the course of the trial.

Diggle, aged 66, of Radcliffe Road, Bolton, denies causing death by careless driving.

The case continues.