Council warned after woman, 91, drowns in canal

Emergency services were called to the scene in Chichester on 1 November

A coroner has told a county council it must address its lack of road safety measures after a 91-year-old woman drowned after driving into a canal.

Doreen Turner died on 1 November after driving her car into the canal in Chichester.

There was no evidence of mechanical failure or impairment of the driver, but the kerb at the end of the road, managed by West Sussex County Council, was found to be less than the standard height, an inquest heard.

The council said: "We are currently reviewing this site in consultation with Sussex Police and will be responding to the coroner accordingly."

Doreen Turner, 91, drove into the canal via South Bank in Chichester

It was not clear why the car ended up in the canal, area coroner Joanne Andrews said.

"In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action," she added.

Ms Turner reached the canal via South Bank, a residential cul-de-sac where another driver had gone into the water within the last five years.

The coroner said the inquest heard there were "no devices present to prevent a vehicle which passes over the kerbstones from entering the canal".

Besides the kerb, there was a five-foot (1.5m) long stretch of grass between the road and the canal.

Additional reporting by PA Media.