THE family of a grandmother who died when she was hit by an "out of control" car have criticised the sentence given to the teen driver.

Kieran John Fletcher, 19, of Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, has been banned from driving for one year and fined £800 after he admitted driving without due care and attention. He must also pay £350 court costs.

He was charged after an incident at Broad Clough bends on Burnley Road, Bacup, a year ago when he lost control of his Citroen Saxo and collided with walkers Lynda Walters and Sam Thompson.

Both women were walking their dogs and Lynda, 56, of Burnley Road, Bacup, died from her injuries.

Speaking after the hearing, Lynda's husband Jeff said justice had not been done. He said they were considering a private prosecution.

Mr Walters said: "He has lost his driving licence and I've lost my wife. It is just not right.

"It has dragged on and on and it has all been his fault.

"Lynda died more than a year ago and it should not have taken this long, it has prolonged our agony.

"I still miss Lynda and she will always have my love."

Fletcher's conviction was his second for driving without due care and attention.

Just four months after this incident, he was convicted after a collision in Burnley on May 11.

Then, he admitted taking his eyes off the road before smashing into the rear of a car which had stopped to turn into a petrol station.

At Reedley Magistrates Court yesterday, Mr Walters was joined by daughters Dawn, Hazel and Gina as well as other family members.

Ms Thompson was also at court. In the incident she suffered serious head, back and arm injuries and is in constant pain.

She said she was still unable to go on Burnley Road after the accident.

Prosecutor Mercedeh Jabbari said Fletcher was driving from Weir through Bacup on his way to Blackpool at around 8.44pm when the incident happened on January 14, 2005.

Miss Jabbari read out a statement from Fletcher's passenger Jack Bunnell.

Mr Bunnell, 18, said he thought Fletcher was driving around 10 to 15mph above the 30mph speed limit at the time. Mr Bunnell said this was "faster than being safe".

Collision investigator PC Richard Roberts said after examining the car and the scene of the accident, the only causes were excess speed and driver inexperience.

Fletcher's solicitor Stuart Page said the incident was a "tragedy of inexperience".

He said: "My client does not want to drive again and he extends his apologies to everyone concerned."

Sandra Dutson, from Road Peace, the national charity for road crash victims, said: "The derisory sentences that are given in instances like this are a complete injustice.

"If there has been a death because of someone's careless driving the sentence should reflect that."