TWO people were crushed to death by a runaway delivery van in front of a crowd of City workers out on their lunch breaks.

The vehicle, from which its driver was unloading goods, careered downhill on Pudding Lane, near Monument at the height of the lunch-time break.

The man and the woman, who were both in the 20s, died despite the efforts of more than 20 onlookers to help them.

The driver of the van was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after witnesses told police he had left his handbrake off, but he was later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Office worker Sarah Jones, 22, witnessed desperate attempts by ambulance crews to save the woman's life shortly after 1.20pm on Friday.

She said: "Half a dozen police came running past me and when I got up there I saw a young girl in her twenties slumped on the ground.

"Her legs were all smashed in and there was blood everywhere.

"There were about four or five people working on her trying to revive her but she was in a bad way.

"She was very petite and smartly dressed and she had an engagement or a wedding ring on her finger. It's awful.

"The man was just lying on the ground a little way away. He looked completely lifeless and the paramedics didn't seem to be bothering with him so I just assumed he was already dead. They both looked dead.”

The woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, is believed to have been a German citizen. The man was taken to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, but died that evening.

Police are awaiting formal identification of the two victims, who are not thought to have been known to each other, before releasing their names.

A City of London police spokesman confirmed: "We are investigating a fatal road traffic collision in Pudding Lane.

"A 51-year-old man from north London was arrested at the scene on suspicion of manslaughter but has now been bailed pending further enquiries.

"Officers are appealing for witnesses to contact the investigation team on 0207 601 2222."