A HUSBAND is taking legal action against the Spanish authorities after his wife was knocked down and killed by a police car in Tenerife.

An inquest on Thursday heard Elizabeth Mary Drummond, of Headworth Close, Kingsmead, was knocked to the ground and taken to hospital in Los Cristianos where she stayed for three weeks.

But after being transferred from Spain to Leighton Hospital, in Crewe, via air ambulance, she suffered a stroke and died on December 11, 2005 - 26 days after the collision.

Mrs Drummond had been enjoying a holiday with her husband Kevin Hewley. They had been together for 25 years.

The inquest heard Mrs Drummond was walking to her hotel with Mr Hewley after having lunch on the beach. But while following her husband across a relatively quiet duel carriageway, she was hit by a police car replying to an emergency call, knocking her to the ground.

She suffered a large cut to the head, extensive bruising to her arms and legs and a minor knee injury.

Mr Hewley said: 'It was a beautiful day and there was no-one around. We wanted to spend the afternoon by the pool so we headed towards our hotel.

'There was only one car on the duel carriageway and it was travelling very slowly. We began to cross and the car actually stopped to give way to us.

'Suddenly I heard my wife scream 'Kev!' and heard the screeching of brakes. I spun around to see Liz lying on the ground unconscious with blood coming from two parts of her head and mouth.'

Mrs Drummond, 53, was rushed into intensive care but after being transferred at Leighton Hospital she started to suffer slight seizures and epileptic fits. Her condition stabilised for four days but soon deteriorated at a rapid rate. A CT brain scan revealed she suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage.

An investigation by the Spanish police authorities found that despite the police officer, Isaac Campos Gonzales, driving to an emergency call without his sirens and lights on, it was the fault of the victim as she had crossed the road near a dangerous junction and not on a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Hewley, who is continuing legal proceedings in Spain, told the court: 'I cannot agree with it all.'

Deputy Coroner Denise Milliard recorded a verdict of accidental death and expressed her sincere sympathies to Mr Hewley and his family. She added: 'I am very sad for you, especially in light of the time you spent together.'