A verdict of accidental death was recorded this week on mother-of-three Julia Canning, killed by a train as she walked her dogs.

Mrs Canning, from Little Bedwyn, was taking her two dogs out on May 6 2009 when the tragedy happened at the Fairfield Crossing close to the village.

The 55-year-old was crossing the railway line with her Labrador Tigger and Dalmatian Jazz when the train struck her, killing her and her Dalmatian.

The Labrador returned home and her 19-year-old son Stratford went out to look for her.

Mrs Canning’s brother Edward Bye, a television producer who is married to comedienne Ruby Wax, said his sister’s immediate family were still coming to terms with the loss.

Mr Bye said: “Julia died a year ago and she is still very much missed by her family and friends. It has taken them time to adjust.

“They are adjusting well but this was still too soon for them.

“The verdict was as expected.This was a terrible accident.”

He added: “She was a huge influence in the community and it has shaken it to the core.

“Her death was a surprise to us all, she had walked that route before many times.”

In a statement James Domican, the driver of the train, which was travelling to Great Bedwyn, said he saw that Mrs Canning was being pulled forward by one of the dogs. He said she hurried to try to cross before the train reached her.

Giving evidence PC Ivor Noyce of Marlborough Police said the driver told him ‘she nearly made it’.

The driver said he hit the emergency brakes with his left hand but he wasn’t able to sound the horn as he was holding the passenger intercom with his right hand and about to announce the next station.

He lost sight of Mrs Canning and when the train stopped he walked back up the track and found her body and one of the dogs.

Giving evidence at the inquest in Trowbridge on Tuesday was Gary Mathias, coroner’s liaison officer and former police constable for the British Transport Police, who had studied CCTV footage of the accident.

He said that one of the dogs seemed reluctant to cross while the other kept walking.

He said: “When she gets on to the crossing both dogs are by her side and no longer pulling her. The Labrador has picked up pace while the Dalmatian appears to have stopped.”

Also giving evidence was HM Inspector of Railways Alexander Cattan of the Office of Rail Regulation. He said the sighting distance on the side of the track was 283m but for a track with a speed limit of 100mph, guidelines stated the sighting distance should have been 415m.

He said: “On the canal side the sighting was sufficient in both directions. But on the field side it was insufficient.”

The onboard black box recorder read the train was travelling at 69mph at impact.

Since the accident Network Rail has cut back vegetation, improved the crossing surface and installed whistle boards that instruct drivers to sound their horn as they approach the crossing.