A former Aughton parish councillor tried to kill his ex-wife by running her over in broad daylight.

Mark Gibbons, 62, hit Julia Woolgar - a highly regarded Senior Lecturer / Honorary Consultant in Oral Pathology at the University of Liverpool with his car on Aughton Street, in July.

And at Preston Crown Court, Gibbons, of Bold Lane, who had been expected to face trial to attempted murder, changed his plea to guilty - at an earlier hearing, he had pleaded guilty to assault and breaching a restraining order.

Police were called to the drama at about 10.15am on Monday, July 23 after reports that a Citroen DS3 had mounted the pavement and hit a pedestrian; the road was closed between Queen Street and Park Road for about three hours while emergency services attended.

Dr Woolgar, elected to Aughton Parish Council in 2015, suffered injuries to her lower body in the collision and was taken to Aintree Hospital.

The couple - who seemed inseparable as they walked to and from Ormskirk together - regularly helped organise 'Aughton’s Got Talent' and were actively involved in the Aughton Community Together group and a local walking club.

Gibbons was granted bail until sentencing on Monday, March 18.