A bin lorry driver has admitted causing the death of a pensioner by careless driving after he reversed over their electric wheelchair.

Scott Hamilton failed to check the route behind him was clear before he backed the truck out, striking retired teacher Peter Wills in Stirlingshire.

At the High Court in Stirling on Tuesday, Hamilton pleaded guilty to causing the death of the 80-year-old by careless driving.

The Crown accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge on the second day of his trial for the more serious offence of causing Mr Wills' death by dangerous driving.

The court heard Hamilton, 44, had knocked over Mr Wills while manoeuvring the lorry on a single track road at Sheriffmuir, near Dunblane, on December 3, 2014.

Mr Wills suffered a broken neck, impacted spinal cord and shattered ribs in the collision.

Advocate depute Jane Farquharson said the original charge, which had alleged Hamilton had been "provided" with a trained reversing assistant but did not use him , made clear the basis on which the allegation of dangerous driving had been levelled.

But she said as Hamilton's colleague Lee McEwan gave evidence, it emerged that his position was "less certain". Mr McEwan, 20, said that he was not detailed to be a reversing assistant and insisted he was only on board to empty recycling boxes, adding he was "just an apprentice".

Ms Farquharson said: "As a result I have taken the view that the responsible course of action is to accept the plea offered."

Sentence on Hamilton, of Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, was deferred until October 25, and he was banned from driving immediately.

The court heard that since the incident, Stirling Council recycling lorries had been fitted with sensors to warn their drivers of obstacles behind them.

Inspector Roddy MacMillan of Police Scotland's trunk road policing unit said: "Scott Hamilton's careless driving resulted in the tragic death of a vulnerable road user.

"Members of the public driving large vehicles need to be aware of the dangers these vehicles pose and should always take appropriate care when operating them.

"I hope this plea will bring a degree of closure to Mr Wills' family and allow them to move forward with their lives."