An eight-year-old girl died when she was knocked down by a car as she tried to cross a busy, three-lane road without adult supervision, an inquest was told.

Sarah Adams was with her sister and two friends, aged between eight and 11-years-old, when she attempted to cross Rooley Lane, near the junction with Sangster Way, Bradford, on August 21 last year.

The accident occurred when Sarah and her sister Emma, 11, were staying with family friend Diane Williams while her parents, Julie and David Adams, were on holiday in Ibiza.

The inquest at Bradford Coroner's Court yesterday heard how on the sunny, dry day the children had been swimming at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre at Odsal. They then went to Sarah's house in Huddersfield Road, Low Moor, and were making their way back to meet Mrs Williams, of Heath Hall Avenue, Bierley, when the accident occurred at about 5pm.

As one of the older children tried to cross the road Sarah followed but when the others retreated Sarah didn't and was hit by a Ford Fiesta.

A post-mortem examination found she would have been unconscious straight away and, despite the attempts of passers-by and staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary, she died in hospital shortly after 6pm from brain swelling and head injuries.

Fiesta driver Paul Blenkiron said in a statement read out to the hearing that he saw the children by the road and then saw Sarah in front of the car.

The inquest was told he was travelling faster than the 40 miles-per-hour speed limit but could not have prevented the accident even if he had only been travelling at half that speed.

Assistant deputy Coroner James Turnbull recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said he did not want to comment on the legal responsibilities of Mrs Williams but he added that, as a father and grandfather, he felt it was common sense that children of that age needed to be supervised when making such a journey.

Following the inquest, a police spokesman said in view of the Coroner's comments, the file of the investigation will be submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for its observations.