An elderly woman died after being hit by a moped as she crossed a road to visit a relative in hospital.

Emily Frost, 84, of Leicester Road, Lewes, was carrying a bunch of flowers when she was struck by the 49cc bike, ridden by a 16-year-old teenager, in Nevill Road, Lewes.

The accident happened near the Victoria Hospital, where local residents have been campaigning for a pedestrian crossing.

Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley told an inquest she would be voicing her concerns to East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council about the lack of a crossing.

She is also to write to the hospital, which does not have an accident and emergency unit, after hearing a teenage boy who witnessed the accident went for help but was told by a member of staff to call an ambulance.

Mrs Frost died from head injuries at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

A statement from her son, Graham Frost, described his mother as a fit and active walker. He said: "She was certainly not slow and doddery."

Three 14-year-old teenagers saw the accident and one of them told the inquest he had commented when they noticed Mrs Frost slowly crossing diagonally across the road that she would get hit unless she speeded up.

Mrs Frost had been looking down at the ground and the moped rider had tried to swerve to avoid her.

One of the boys said: "I do not believe the lady or the motorcyclist were to blame. It was just an accident."

Another of the boys said he rushed to the nearby hospital for help. He went to the minor injuries unit but he was told to call an ambulance himself.

He said: "I was told 'We cannot do anything about it. Go and phone an ambulance.'

"I was bothered by it. It is a hospital and they should know first aid."

After the accident, when the rider took off his helmet, the teenagers recognised him as a former student at their school.

The moped rider, from Lewes, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attended the hearing but did not give evidence. The inquest heard no decision has been made on whether he will be prosecuted.

PC Chris Burt said his investigation showed both Mrs Frost and the moped rider should have been able to see each other at a sufficient distance to avoid the accident.

The rider had not been speeding but his inexperience may have been a factor in the accident.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mrs Hamilton-Deeley said: "Mrs Frost ought to have been able to see and hear the moped and he ought to have been able to see her in sufficient time to take avoiding action.

"Sadly, neither of them saw each other in time.

"I am not saying the accident was unavoidable. In my view both the people involved could have taken avoiding action but did not."

She is to write to East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council to ask them to consider installing a crossing where the accident happened.

She is also writing to the medical director of the hospital.

She said the fact the teenager was turned away was not acceptable. She said: "I do not think that is good enough."

l An East Sussex County Council spokeswoman said a decision to install a crossing had been made shortly after the accident. Delays had been caused by objections to the proposed site of the crossing, which should be in place within two months.