A 93-year-old will be sent to trial after he allegedly failed to stop at the scene of an accident.

Maurice Braley was driving near his home in Arundel Road, Angmering, when he hit a car, trapping a mother between the door and the vehicle as she was getting her child from the back seat.

Mr Braley stopped his car 20 yards from the crash to inspect his car and after giving it the all clear, drove around to leave his details with the woman.

But when he could not recognise the car he had collided with – which was parked on the wrong side of the road –he carried on driving.

He had talked to a witness while inspecting his car, who speculated Mr Braley was going to drive away without leaving his details.

The witness noted the licence number and reported it to the police.

Mr Braley admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to report an accident.

But he denied failing to stop at the scene of an accident, claiming he had stopped but then driven around the one-way village green.

Prosecutor Jane Deakin conceded the defendant was in good health for a 93-year-old but called for him to take a re-test to ensure he is fit to drive.

She added: “I am not being difficult, I know she was on the wrong side of the road, but that's not the point.”

Defending, Richard Finley said his client was driving at less than 20mph and that when the woman opened her door Mr Braley was faced with clipping the car or driving into solid fencing on the other side of the road given the narrowness of the road.

He told the court the door had crossed the centre lines, adding: “In terms of failing to report, in these circumstances he’s not actively looking to avoid detection on this because he’s parked up 20 yards from where it took place and then driven around the village green.”

No injuries were reported.

Ms Deakin called for magistrates to confiscate Mr Braley's licence over the guilty pleas.

But after the bench decided not to do so, Ms Deakin said she had no option but to take Mr Braley to trial on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, which will take place in Chichester on December 9.