A lorry driver from Wandsworth, who ran over and killed a popular Chelsea Football Club worker, has been cleared of driving without due care and attention.

Colin Jones, 44, knocked 28-year-old Victoria Buchanan off her bike as she undertook him in a cycle lane during morning rush hour traffic in Fulham.

She was dragged under the front wheels of his HGV after he hit her while turning off Fulham Road on October 17, 2006.

Witnesses heard Ms Buchanan scream and saw the lorry run her over - but the driver was oblivious until it was too late, City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

Ms Buchanan was head of operations for Chelsea Pitch Owners and her death prompted tributes from club stars, including a goal dedicated to her by striker Didier Drogba.

Mr Jones, of Godley Road, who has been an HGV driver for more than 20 years, said he did not see Ms Buchanan in his mirrors before making a left hand turn.

He said he made repeated mirror checks but Ms Buchanan, who was wearing a cycling helmet and a fluorescent top, was not in view and must have been in his blind spots.

Mr Jones said he did not hear her screams as she was dragged under the wheels for at least nine metres, due to the noise of his engine.

He was only alerted by another cyclist, who waved frantically at him to stop.

Mr Jones told the court: "As I turned left, I felt a little bobble of the lorry. I felt it rock. I thought I'd caught the road works at the traffic lights."

Mr Jones, who often cycles to work himself, said he checked carefully before turning. He said he stopped to see what he had hit but could not see anything in his mirrors, and was about to move on when he saw a witness waving.

Mr Jones said: "I saw him go to the front of the lorry and I thought to myself something had happened.

"I looked in my cab mirror and saw blood coming from under the wheel. That was when I knew."

Ms Buchanan, of Oxford Road, Kilburn, was engaged to marry 29-year-old Adam Chataway.