A 19-year-old has appeared in court charged with causing death by careless driving after his car struck an 83-year-old who was walking her dog.

Michael Allen denied causing death by careless driving following the fatal crash involving his Ford Fiesta and pedestrian Rhona Panton in Hanbury, near Droitwich.

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He pleaded not guilty when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday following the incident on August 31 last year.

Eleanor Peart, prosecuting, said Mrs Panton had been walking her dog Flora at the time she was struck, receiving 'catastrophic injuries'.

She described Mrs Panton as 'a fit, healthy, robust and enormously active 83-year-old walking her dog Flora in the carriageway of School Road, Hanbury' when the collision occurred. Allen is a man with no previous convictions, she added.

A daughter of the woman who died was present at court as were members of the defendant's family.

Allen of Jubilee Drive, Redditch, was given a choice of where he wanted the case heard, magistrates court or crown court.

Jason Patel, defending, told the bench the trial was 'a matter you can deal with'.

Magistrates were prepared to retain jurisdiction for the case. However, Allen selected trial by jury at Worcester Crown Court.

He was granted unconditional bail to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 23.