A man spoke of his "hopeless" attempt to come to terms with the death of an elderly woman who was hit by a wheel that fell of a lorry he owned.

Speaking after he and his brother were cleared of manslaughter, farmer Howard Baker said it had been made clear Doris Smith, 84, had been a "very special person".

The great-grandmother was knocked unconscious after the wheel and hub assembly flew off the lorry and struck her as she walked along Ashingdon Road, Rochford, on July 11, 2005.

She died a few hours later in Southend Hospital.

Howard Baker, 55, of Marsh Road, Tillingham, and brother Martin Baker, 53, of Lower Road, Hockley, had been accused of failing to properly maintain the vehicle, but were acquitted at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Judge Christopher Ball QC described it as a "tragic accident" and said the difficult case was bound to scar the lives of all involved. He also took the unusual step of reading out sections from a statement Mrs Smith's daughter.

It read: "We all loved her very much. She brought much laughter to our lives.

"Mum loved parties and was also a bundle of fun. Her favourite times were when the family was all together."

Judge Ball added: "She plainly was a lovely, lovely lady and we all have huge regret for what happened."

After the verdict, Howard Baker said he had clearly recognised a "beautiful person" after seeing the photograph of Mrs Smith, published in the Echo following the accident.

He said: "On finding out about her husband, then alive and also in his eighties, and that there was a numerous and close family, it made the process of coming to terms with her death, and my part in it, quite hopeless.

"I will never forget the judge's final comments and can only agree with them. Doris Smith was undoubtedly a very special person."

Sgt Richard Raker, the accident investigator, said he thought it was right to bring the prosecution to court.

He added: "This is a tragic, but ultimately avoidable accident and I would hope the message is sent out to the farming industry as a whole that maintenance is essential."

Lewis Windust, 65, from New Zealand, who was driving the vehicle, was cleared of dangerous driving last week.