We are all going to miss him so much

Southwark Coroner's Court was told Peter Thumwood, of Eaglesfield Road, Shooters Hill, suffered severe head injuries in the incident on Easter Monday.

He was travelling along Kinlet Road, Shooters Hill, when his pony began to bolt after being scared by an Alsatian dog which was not on a lead.

The 74-year-old's daughter, Carol Thumwood-Browning, wept as she told how she got out of the trap to calm the pony when she saw the barking dog coming towards them.

However, the pony could not be controlled and crashed into the side of a parked Mercedes car.

The momentum threw grandfather-of-two Mr Thumwood out of the cart and left him unconscious on the road.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, but died the following morning, on March 29.

The court heard the dog's 15-year-old walker had not put its lead on after coming out of Shrewsbury Park, around 100m away.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Peter Sampson said: "He suffered a fatal head injury and despite prompt attention, could not be resuscitated."

Speaking outside court, Mrs Thumwood-Browning, 45, also of Eaglesfield Road, said: "I'm angry. I feel this so-called accident was caused by irresponsible parents allowing their children to walk their dog.

"A dearly loved and wonderful husband, father and grandfather has been taken away from us and if the dog was on a lead we would not be here today."

The mother-of-two added: "The only consolation I have is he died doing something he loved.

"My father was a very young and active elderly man."

Mr Thumwood ran timber and furniture company Conmax on Plumstead High Street.

He set up the firm with his wife Vi, 82, in 1957.

Mrs Thumwood-Browning said: "My mother's life is completely shattered.

"They were going to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next year. We are all going to miss him so much."