A FAMILY has paid tribute to their bingo-loving grandmother who died after being hit by a dustbin lorry.

Edie Allen, 87, of Tyndale House, Hullbridge, died from her injuries after being hit by the SITA UK lorry as it reversed around a corner in Rydal Close.

Mrs Allen was hit by the truck on Tuesday, November 4, and needed surgery to serious leg injuries and a broken shoulder, but sadly died from her injuries in Southend Hospital on Saturday.

It has now emerged the Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident. Three men working on that lorry have since left the company.

Paying her tribute, Mrs Allen’s grand-daughter, Lucy Nye, 35, who now lives in Minnesota, USA, said: “We are quite a small family and she has been a big part of my life.

“She was a consistent influence; we called her ‘Nanna Bingo’ because she did love her bingo. She loved music as well, especially from the Thirties and Forties. She was very impressed when we bought her a CD player and she liked to sing.

“She was very happy in her lovely little apartment in Tyndale House and was remarkably agile.

“She had a glass eye when she was young, but that was all the surgery she had ever had. My mum used to help her out, but she could still take herself off on little trips.

“She was just a very lovely and special person.”

Ms Nye said her grandmother was knocked down by the recycling lorry as it was reversing.

She also said the lorry only stopped when a neighbour came out of the house to alert them.

The Echo understands the driver has resigned while two other members of staff were sacked.

A spokesman for the company said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the deceased.

“The incident, which occurred on November 4, is subject to an ongoing police investigation and SITA UK is cooperating fully with this process.

“Furthermore, SITA UK has notified the Health and Safety Executive of the incident and internal investigations are now taking place.”

Health and safety inquiry

GUIDANCE from the Health and Safety Executive advises reversing is kept to a minimum for working vehicles, but when necessary it is undertaken safely and in safe areas.

It is advised when there is no other way to control reversing risks, such as marking out a safe area with clear signs to stop pedestrians, a banksman should be used.

A banksman should be visible to drivers at all times, but in this case it appears no reversing area was marked out and no banksman was used.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and both SITA UK and the HSE are aiding them with their enquiries.

A spokesman for Rochford District Council, which employs SITA UK for its recycling management, said: “We have been made aware that a Hullbridge resident has sadly passed away following a road traffic accident involving a SITA UK vehicle.

“Our thoughts are with the lady’s family at this sad time.”

The chairman of Hullbridge Parish Council has also offered her condolences to Edie’s family.

Angelina Marriott said: “Last time I saw her was when I enjoyed a long chat with her at an event in Tyndale House back in June. She was a lovely lady, who I am sure will be missed by many people.”