ROAD safety campaigners have condemned a sentence imposed on a pensioner who caused an accident in which a Hampshire school receptionist was killed.

Dennis Farthing, 76, was fined £400 and received six points on his driving licence after admitting careless driving.

Christine Hiller, pictured above, was riding pillion on her husband John's motorbike when it was in a head-on collision with Farthing's car which was on the wrong side of the road.

Mrs Hiller, 45, receptionist of The Mountbatten School in Romsey, died of head injuries.

Safety group RoadPeace condemned the decision not to disqualify Farthing from driving.

Chairman Zoe Stow said: "It does show the very small price put on a life on the roads when someone has been responsible through negligence for a death.

"I can't imagine the victim's family felt the death of a human being had been treated appropriately by the courts."

New Forest magistrates heard how Mr Hiller and his wife had been riding along the A35 between Lyndhurst and Christchurch at 8pm on August 16 last year.

Farthing, of Marine Drive, New Milton, was turning into the East Close Country Hotel at Hinton St Michael when the collision happened.

Lincoln Brooks, mitigating, said Farthing had held a completely clean driving licence all his life.

He said: "He has asked to express his apologies and remorse to Mr Hiller for his loss. He has suffered from insomnia since the day in question."

Speaking after the verdict Mr Hiller, of Horseshoe Drive, Romsey, said: "I didn't know if he would get banned or not. At least it's over and done with now."