A PENSIONER died and her husband is fighting for his life after they were in an accident involving a car at a pedestrian crossing.

George Lincoln, 92, and his 84-year-old wife, Sarah, of South Shields, South Tyneside, were crossing a busy main road at the time of the incident, which involved a Vauxhall Nova car.

The accident happened in Newcastle Road, South Shields, at about 8.10am yesterday, near the Tesco supermarket.

Mrs Lincoln died at the scene and her husband was last night in a critical condition at South Tyneside District Hospital.

Police closed the westbound carriageway while investigators surveyed the scene.