A LORRY driver wept as he sympathised with the family of an elderly Poole couple who died after their car collided with his skip lorry.

William Harris struggled to contain his emotions after giving evidence at an inquest into the deaths of retired company director Albert Gallimore and his wife Florence.

Earlier the Bournemouth coroner's court heard how tragedy had struck on May 2 this year after Mr Gallimore, 86, pulled out into Mr Harris's path on Broadstone Way.

Their son Peter Gallimore said his father had worn spectacles and undergone a cataract operation.

"His eyes were not 100 per cent but were fairly good. He rarely took out the car; only to go local shopping," he said.

Florist Rosemary Old, who was behind the Gallimores' Renault Laguna at the Beechbank Avenue junction, said: "They were there for a couple of minutes and I wondered why they were waiting because the road was clear.

"The whole incident unfolded in front of me. I didn't see the lorry coming up until it was near the junction.

"Then Mr Gallimore, who had been talking to his wife, pulled away slowly. I can still hear the screeching sound.

"The lorry driver responded as quickly as he could. He didn't stand a chance."

In a statement, Louise Bracken said she had seen the car pulling out and the lorry swerve.

She stopped and heard Mr Harris saying: "I couldn't stop, they just pulled out in front of me."

Mr Harris told police: "I'm gutted that two people died. I felt guilty. I really do believe that I did everything I could to avoid them. It still upsets me, I can still see it."

Crash investigator PC Clifton Beard said no defects had been found on either vehicle.

But a tachograph reading showed Mr Harris was driving at 50mph - the HGV speed limit at the crash scene is 40 mph.

"Even if the lorry had been travelling at 40 mph the driver would have been unable to stop. He reacted faster than could be expected."

Recording accidental death verdicts, Coroner Sheriff Payne said: "I believe the lorry driver responded as rapidly as he could but was unable to avoid a collision."