A MAN who was driving a refuse truck which crushed a pensioner in Worcester City Centre has been charged over her death.

Nathan John Beauchamp, from Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, was charged with causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving following the death of Sylvia Russell.

He is set to appear at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday, March 23 having been on bail since the pensioner's death almost six months ago.

Miss Russell, of Dent Close, Worcester, was crushed by a Smith's Waste Management of Gloucester truck in The Shambles at just after 9.15am on Monday, September 29 last year.

She died at the scene.

Her death shocked the city centre which many shoppers and people working in nearby stores rushing to her aid.

Scores of bouquets of flowers were left outside the Argos store near to where the incident happened.

The 69-year-old, who was a regular Worcester News letter writer, was described as a "very kind and thoughtful person" by her friend Len Presley at her funeral in December.

Mr Presley, from Bransford, added: "I was actually asked to keep an eye on Sylvia after her mother died.

"She looked up to her mother and she went through some dark times after her death.

"I eventually became a good friend of hers and she actually spent a couple of Christmases with us. I would visit her regularly for chats."