AN elderly woman has died after suffering multiple injuries when she was thrown from a bus seat.

Dorothy Ward, aged 89, was travelling on a First Manchester bus through Walkden when a van pulled out in front of the vehicle, causing it to brake sharply.

Mrs Ward, of Falcon Drive, Little Hulton, and a friend were both thrown from their seats near the front of the number 68 bus on to the floor.

She suffered multiple injuries after becoming entangled in a luggage rack when she fell and was taken to hospital where doctors told her she would never walk again because of damage caused to her frail spine. She died in hospital on Thursday night after failing to recover from the fall.

Her son, Stan Ward, said the family were now taking advice from solicitors and were angry that nobody from the bus company had phoned to enquire about his mother's health following the incident. "Not once have they been in touch," he said. "My mother was perfectly healthy and independent before this happened."

Mrs Ward spent 12 weeks in hospital after the accident on Saturday, May 8.

Simon Bennett, managing director for First's services in Manchester-West said: "I'd like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Ward family. In May, immediately following the incident, we undertook a full internal investigation of the circumstances. It has been reported to the police and as far as we are aware there are no pending criminal proceedings."