An erupting prominence seen by SOHO/EIT was tracked into the field of view of the LASCO C2 and C3 coronagraphs where it developed into the core of a structured CME. The erupting prominence was deflected by an angle of $\sim 20^{\circ}$ towards the north pole whereas the consequent core of the CME and it's leading edge propagated in the outer corona at constant position angle. The prominence material underwent a constant acceleration phase until a height of $\sim$1.5 solar radii before it started to decelerate up to a distance of 5.0 solar radii. An inflow of plasma with a speed of about 70-80 km/s was discovered in the EIT observations at a height of 1.5-1.2 solar radii in the course of the prominence eruption, matching in time the prominence deceleration phase. The downflowing material followed a curved path, suggestive of the apex of a contracting magnetic loop sliding down along other field lines.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html