THE family of a woman who was killed by a bus as she attempted to welcome visitors to a popular tourist attraction have won a six-figure payout in damages for her death.

Rachel Cassells, 50, was hit by the coach in the car park of the Trossachs Woollen Mill and failed to survive her injuries.

Mrs Cassells, of Stirling, worked in the cafe of the mill near Callander, Stirlingshire, but sometimes waited in the parking area to greet tourists as they arrived on trips. Tragedy struck in April 2015 when Mrs Cassells was hit by a visiting coach.

Emergency crews arrived within minutes and due to the extent of her injuries she was airlifted to hospital in Glasgow but could not be saved.

Mrs Cassells’ husband, Douglas, 58, launched a legal claim at the Court of Session in Edinburgh against coach operators, Allan’s Group, and Edinburgh Woollen Mills.

They both denied liability for the incident but judge Lady Carmichael has ruled they were jointly responsible. However, she did attribute some blame to Mrs Cassells.

Mr Cassells, who was represented by law firm Digby Brown, has paid tribute to his wife and welcomed the judgment.

He said: “The loss of my wife is something I’ve struggled with every day since the incident and it’s something that will affect me for the rest of my life.

"The court process has helped me heal a little in terms of bringing about some answers. But nothing will change the fact that Rachel is not here, nor can anything or anyone replace her.

“She had a bubbly personality and her own special way of making people smile and as well as being a vibrant loving wife, she was also a devoted daughter and spent a lot of time helping her parents and putting their needs before her own – a great example of her generous nature.

"Rachel was a very loving and caring person and the tragedy on that day impacted not just myself but her parents and everyone that knew her. It still upsets me to this day and I love her very, very much.”

A fatal accident inquiry held at Stirling Sheriff Court had earlier heard evidence from witnesses who had seen Mrs Cassells in the car park moments before her death.

No charges were ever brought against coach driver Brian Alexander, but he declined to answer questions at the inquiry following legal advice.

Issuing her judgment, Lady Carmichael said: "I found it established on the balance of probabilities that Mrs Cassells was upright when the bus started moving, and that had Mr Alexander been exercising reasonable care he would have seen her and been able to avoid the accident.

"I found that the second defenders knew of, permitted, and, to some extent at least, encouraged Mrs Cassells’ practice of greeting buses in the car park.

"They failed to take reasonable care for her safety in respects and their failure was a material cause of the accident.

"I, therefore, found the defenders jointly and severally liable to make reparation to the pursuers.

"I regard the driver of the bus as primarily responsible for the accident and the injury to Mrs Cassells which resulted in her death.

"The risk of harm posed by a large vehicle in collision with a pedestrian is obviously relevant in considering causative potency.

"That said, I regard the second defenders as bearing a significant share of the responsibility. The risk of injury to employees in the car park was obvious and was not mitigated by the very straightforward and practical measures which would have been open to the second defenders and which they adopted after the accident.

“I found it established on the balance of probabilities that Mrs Cassells was upright when the bus started moving, and that had Mr Alexander been exercising reasonable care he would have seen her and been able to avoid the accident.

“I regard the driver of the bus as primarily responsible for the accident and the injury to Mrs Cassells.”