A woman in her 80s was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a hit and run crash in Dorchester.

The crash took place on Bridport Road near to the junction with Williams Avenue at around 6pm yesterday.

It involved a car - described as possibly a dark blue hatchback - and a pedestrian.

The driver of the car did not stop and made off in the direction of Poundbury, police said.

The pedestrian – a woman aged in her 80s – was taken to Dorset County Hospital for treatment after sustaining serious injuries that are not described as life-threatening, according to police.

A double-crewed land ambulance, doctor, and a critical care car were also sent to the scene of the hit and run.

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward after a fail-to-stop collision in Dorchester.

Police Sergeant Richard Stroud, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “An investigation is underway to identify the driver of the vehicle involved in this collision.

“I am appealing to anyone who saw what happened or may have captured anything of relevance on dashcam or CCTV footage, to please get in touch.

“I would like to directly appeal to the driver of the vehicle to do the right thing and come forward so we can take your account and establish the full circumstances.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We were called at 6.04pm on to a road traffic collision in Dorchester.

"We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, a doctor, and a critical care car to the scene. We conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Dorset County Hospital.”

Poundbury councillor Richard Biggs described the incident as 'upsetting.'

He said: "My thought go out to the lady involved. It’s upsetting when these things happen."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55240173986.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.