A PENSIONER broke down in tears as he told a court of the moment his car was filled with "a deathly silence" after another motorist crashed into his vehicle, killing his wife of over 60 years.

Robert Forsyth, 94, was giving evidence at the trial of Martin Muir, 27, who denies causing Jean Forsyth's death by driving without due care and attention on August 1, 2013.

Mr Forsyth told Paisley Sheriff Court he and his 84-year-old wife were travelling along Greenfieldmuir Road, a single track route in Neilston, when their red Citroen C3 collided with Mr Muir's car.

Mr Forsyth said: "I would say I was doing about 20 to 25 miles per hour in third gear. It was a nice afternoon - there was no need to be going any faster.

"I came round a sharp bend, there was no sign of this other car coming and then suddenly it was there.

"There was an almighty bang. It hit me full, square on and sent me onto my side."

The Forsyths' vehicle came to a stop on its side, with the passenger's side of the vehicle resting on the ground.

Mr Forsyth, a retired architect, said: "A deathly silence ensued. I was stunned by what had happened.

"I don't think my wife was conscious at the time."

Mr Forsyth said he did not know how fast Mr Muir's vehicle was going at the time, but added: "It must take quite a biff to roll a car over on its side so it must have been travelling fast."

The court heard that the police, ambulance and fire service raced to the scene and set about freeing the Forsyths from the wreckage. Mrs Forsyth was taken to a helicopter.

Mr Forsyth was taken to Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital to receive treatment.

He fought back tears as he told the nine male and six female jurors about his pleas for his wife's welfare and was overcome with emotion when reliving the moment he was told she had passed away.

He said: "I kept asking them how my wife was but nobody would answer that question until I got to the hospital.

"They took us into a little room at the hospital, my daughters had arrived by that time. They broke it to us that my wife hadn't survived."

Prosecutors claim Mr Muir, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, failed to keep proper control of his car, made his wheels lock while braking, and crossed over onto the wrong side of the road, hitting the Forsyths' car and killing Mrs Forsyth.

The trial, before Sheriff Seith Ireland, continues.