GREATER Manchester Police traffic officers are appealing for help in reconstructing a collision with a bus which left a pensioner dead.

Kathleen Lea, 69, from Sale, had been crossing Piccadilly near the junction with Portland Street in the city centre when she collided with the 192 Magic double decker bus from Stockport.

She died from her injuries and her partner needed treatment for bruising. The collision happened on Thursday November 29.

A full reconstruction is planned for today (Tuesday December 11) in Piccadilly Gardens, when officers will attempt to recreate the circumstances of the accident.

The reconstruction will begin at 10am and Piccadilly between Portland Street and Lever Street will be closed until 2pm.

Police officers will be playing the parts of Kathleen and her partner, and another will be driving the bus.

Photographs taken at the time of the accident by the force helicopter will be used to ensure the reconstruction is as accurate as possible.

The reconstruction will be carried out a number of times, whilst being videoed and photographed by the Accident Investigation Team.

PC Nigel Everett of Grey Mare Lane Traffic Unit said: "Initial investigations suggest that the collision occurred between the couple and the front of the bus as they held hands to cross the road.

"Kathleen unfortunately has then fallen under the bus and died as a result of her injuries.

"To help us out with this reconstruction we would like to invite anyone who was in Piccadilly Gardens on Thursday November 29 to come down and speak to either myself or my colleagues about anything that may help us piece together how this accident occurred.

"It will only take a few minutes of your time, but could be the key to how this accident happened.

"We would also like to invite anyone who travelled on that 192 bus from Stockport that morning. Even if they did not travel all the way into the city centre, they may have information relevant to our investigation."

Anyone who cannot make it to the reconstruction but has information about the accident is asked to contact the Traffic Unit on 856 3573 or 856 3572.