AN inquest has opened into the death of a grandfather who was hit by a car as it crashed into a pub wall.

Ronald Ramsey, 74, was confirmed dead at the scene outside the Hoy Pub in Clacton Road, St Osyth, on May 11.

A post-mortem examination, carried out by Dr Soumadri Sen at Colchester General Hospital on May 16, gave the provisional cause of death as cardiogenic shock and multiple injuries due to blunt trauma.

Mr Ramsey died in the arms of the pub’s landlord shortly after 4.20pm.

A regular dog walker, he was travelling past the public house with pet Bobby when a car mounted the pavement.

A 36-year-old woman from the Clacton area was taken to hospital with serious, but not life-changing injuries.

A woman driving a Volkswagen estate was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

She has since been released under investigation and police enquiries are ongoing.

Paying tribute to Ronald, his family said: “As we struggle to understand the devastation we have been left to deal with, we take strength knowing what high regard friends and villagers had for Ronnie - my dad and a brilliant grandad.

“Thank you for all your sincere thoughts.”