A pensioner died when he and his wife were knocked down by a speeding police car answering an emergency call which turned out to be a hoax.

Onlookers screamed as the vehicle ploughed into David Lloyd and his wife Linda in Grand Parade, Eastbourne.

An inquest at Eastbourne heard Mr Lloyd, 83, was flung on to the car's bonnet and into the air before landing near his wife.

He went into a coma and died almost two weeks later from pneumonia, renal failure and multiple injuries at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

His widow was treated for severe bruising and a broken arm.

The inquest heard the car had been travelling at speeds of more than 60mph along the seafront, which has a limit of 30mph, on a priority response call.

PC Paul Zecchin, a passenger in the police car, said: "We had been asked to attend an incident of 20 males fighting with glass balls on the Kingsmere estate in Eastbourne.

"Obviously we never reached the estate but I understand there was no incident there."

The police investigation unit found the car had been travelling at speeds in excess of 50mph along the seafront, at one point reaching 62mph, before the collision at 9pm on September 3 last year.

PC Zecchin added: "When I first saw the couple we were about 10 metres away from them.

"Vicky was already trying to swerve. We were travelling between 30 and 60mph.

"I recall thinking we are going to hit these two people and if we do miss them we are going to have a big accident with the parked vehicles.

"I believe we saw them at the first opportunity. It was dark and they were wearing dark clothing.

"There was nowhere for our car to go."

The couple, who have four children and had been married for 61 years, had travelled from their home in Tredegar, near Newport, South Wales, to holiday in Sussex.

PC Vicky Richards is facing prosecution for driving without due care and attention. An IPCC investigation is ongoing.

She spoke only to tell the inquest she had been a police officer for six years and had completed the standard three-week driving course with Sussex Police.

Simon Welham, who has a holiday home overlooking Grand Parade, said: "I noticed a police car travelling down the seafront and a couple were crossing the road. I could see there was going to be a collision.

"I watched in horror at what was going to happen.

"The police car appeared to miss Mrs Lloyd but she was spun round by it.

"Mr Lloyd took the full impact.

"His legs kicked out from underneath him and he hit the windscreen of the car.

"The car swung out with screeching tyres. Mr Lloyd was carried along by the police car for some distance."

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, of Brighton police, was off duty and walking along the promenade with his wife and grandchildren.

He said: "I heard a series of bangs which I think was the car hitting wing mirrors.

"The gentleman hit the bonnet and then he went vertically upwards and came down on his head."

Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.