AN ELDERLY woman was critically ill in hospital on Tuesday after she was in an accident with a double-decker bus as she crossed a road in Winton town centre.

The 97-year-old was said to have stepped out from between two cars into the path of a Yellow Buses vehicle as she crossed Wimborne Road close to its junction with Leslie Road at around 10.47am.

Following the incident police sealed off part of Wimborne Road and coned off the accident zone.

A Dorset Police spokesman said yesterday: "The lady received serious injuries and was taken to Poole Hospital where her condition is described as critical.

Karl Bennett, 18, a shop assistant at greengrocers Long's, witnessed the incident.

He said: "It was an elderly lady and she just came out from between two parked cars.

"The bus had just started off from the bus stop down the road. The bus couldn't stop in time.

"I think she hit her head on the windscreen."

Yellow Buses managing director Roy Edgley described the incident as "regrettable".

He said: "Police have carried out an examination of the vehicle and it has been released and nothing found to be wrong with the vehicle.

"The lady has gone to hospital and the driver has been taken off duty but is now back in the depot.

"This is very regrettable but we believe our staff are very well trained and the vehicles maintained highly.

"Accidents are inevitable but we do all we can to avoid them."

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact them on 01202 222500.

First published: Oct 6