A woman is to ask for a judicial review of a coroner's verdict that her mother's death in a hit-and-run crash was an accident.

Witnesses suggested at an inquest on Maureen Morris yesterday that joyriders were in the stolen car that hit her.

The retired 66-year-old, of Priory Road, Littlemore, Oxford, died just yards from her home after being hit by a stolen blue Vauxhall Astra. After visiting grandchildren, she was crossing the road after being dropped home by taxi at about 6.45pm on December 22 last year.

Several witnesses told the coroner they had heard a thud and saw Mrs Morris and her shopping flung into the air.

The Astra had come around the sharp bend at the junction of Minchery Road and Priory Road moments earlier.

Pathologist Dr Brian Warren concluded that Mrs Morris died as a result of severe head injuries at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on December 28.

Witnesses Justin and Tina Snell, of Priory Road, told the coroner that four male youths were in the car, which slowed down as it approached them, but then drove off at speed.

Days later, a blue Astra was found burned in Elm Tree Close, Cowley.

Pc Gary Baldwin, who investigated the case, said there was some damage which was consistent with the car having struck a pedestrian.

He said: "Setting fire to a car is an effective way of destroying this sort of evidence. This car had definitely hit a pedestrian. There's certainly no evidence to suggest there was any hard braking."

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner accepted that the burned Astra was the same car in the hit and run, but decided there was not enough evidence to say the death was unlawful killing.

Mr Gardiner said accidental death was the only "proper verdict" that could be decided.

He said: "I cannot say there is any evidence to justify saying Mrs Morris was unlawfully killed. I cannot see any evidence that would justify my bringing such a verdict.

"There is nothing to suggest this was a deliberate accident. One could say it was a bad driving. But it would not justify a verdict of unlawful killing."

The decision left Mrs Morris's daughter Linda Mullee devastated.

Outside court, she said: "Even an open verdict would be acceptable. But to call it an accident is wrong.

The verdict is just condoning what joyriders have done. It's sending a message saying it's okay to steal a car, knock someone over, leave them dying in the road, drive off, and then burn the evidence that could have got a conviction. Witnesses said they made no attempt to stop.

"We've had no justice for my mum. No-one has been charged. I lived for my mum all my life. It has devastated my two boys - how do I tell them it was just an accident?

"I have to walk down that road every day and see where my mum was killed. I can't tell you what it's done to me."