A WOMAN involved in a death crash that claimed the lives of a couple on holiday has been jailed for a year.

Thomas and Margaret Whitmore from Wigan were struck down on the pavement as they took an afternoon stroll near the Carnforth area.

The motorist involved maintained that she had suffered a black out at the time.

Violet Dixon, aged 57, of Highgate, Kendal, had been found guilty of a charge of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial.

A jury had heard that the 69 years old Mr Whitmore and his 66 year old wife were hit while on the pavement. They were on holiday at a caravan park at the time.

Dixon had been driving on Coastal Road at Hest Bank, between Carnforth and Morecambe.

She came off the road and had the accident, but was not speeding and there were no aggravating features.

She had no previous convictions and was described at court as someone of outstanding character.

Mr Lionel Webster, defending, said it was a tragedy for the family who lost two loved members and a tragedy for the woman herself.

She maintained that she had blacked out.

"Her life has been devastated ever since that day." She had had over two years thinking about what happened.

Dixon worked at the Springfield Hostel for homeless women in Kendal. A character reference from her boss stated she was a good worker and well liked.

Mr Webster added that the jury had decided she drove dangerously on that date. He asked that a suspended sentence be imposed, due to exceptional circumstances.

Judge Anthony Proctor said the couple had been out on an afternoon walk. "Their lives were snuffed out."

Parliament had recently increased the maximum sentence for such crimes to ten years. He said this showed the seriousness with which Parliament regarded such cases.

He told Dixon "Your vehicle for no reason left the road on a dry October afternoon and went onto the pavement. I have no doubt that the memory of what happened will live with you for the rest of your life."

Dixon was also banned from driving for five years.