HORRIFIED shoppers watched helplessly yesterday as an elderly woman died as she was hit by a bus and her body dragged almost half-a-mile through the streets of Durham City.

Passers-by tried frantically to raise the alarm after the 86-year-old woman was knocked down near the bus station in North Road just after midday.

Within seconds, a police car arrived at the spot where she had been hit by the single decker bus, but - oblivious to the impact and flashing lights behind him - the driver carried on his journey with the woman's body still trapped under the vehicle.

And it was not until the bus reached a sharp corner on to Crossgate Peth, near St Margaret's Health Centre, that her body was thrown clear.

Officers made a desperate chase after the bus from North Road until they came across the woman's body, but still the driver of the Arriva service continued the journey for another four miles.

He only becoming aware of the horror behind him when he was stopped in Ushaw Moor.

The victim, who is believed to be from the outskirts of Durham City, was certified dead at the scene and her body taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, where a post-mortem examination will take place.

"It must have been horrendous for everyone that saw it and witnessed it," said Inspector Dave Hammond, of Durham Police.

"North Road was very busy at the time. A lot of people saw what happened and we have spoken to some of them, but we would like anyone else to come forward."

The driver of the bus is said to be still in shock and not at work.

Iain McInroy, operations director of Arriva Northumbria and North East, said last night: "We can confirm one of our buses, on service 44, was involved in an accident at around noon in Durham City centre, which resulted in the tragic death of an elderly lady.

"We send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of this lady and, of course, are working closely with the police and the relevant authorities to establish how this incident happened."

At the time of the accident, the majority of shopkeepers and shoppers on the busy street say they were unaware of the accident that had taken place. But by mid-afternoon news had spread.

John Hall, who was working in the Age Concern charity shop, said: "There was no indication anyone had been dragged down the road. There were a lot of police about, but we never heard anything."

Police are studying CCTV footage of the city centre and a forensic examination of the vehicle is being carried out.

It is not yet known how many passengers were on the bus at the time and yesterday afternoon the driver had still to be interviewed.

The victim is not being named until all relatives have been informed.

The accident comes four months after another pedestrian died after an accident with a bus in the same spot.

Mary Bongard, 83, of North End, Durham City, received serious head injuries after a collision near the exit of Durham bus station on October 19. She died more than two months later at the University Hospital of North Durham.