AN ELDERLY woman has died after apparently falling from a bridge at a Bournemouth beauty spot.

Police and paramedics were called to Middle Chine yesterday morning after she was found unconscious with head injuries.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Southampton general hospital, where there is a specialist trauma unit. She later died.

The death comes a week after two pensioners fell from a block of flats in Manor Road on Tuesday last week.

An inquest is due to be opened this morning into the deaths of Roy and Glenys Smith who fell from their second floor home.

The woman, who died yesterday, is in her 70s and lives in the Westcliff area.

Police cordoned off parts of the pathway through the chine, which runs from West Cliff Road to the beach between Durley Chine and Alum Chine.

Passers-by told the Echo they saw police activity at a taped off flight of wooden steps, close to the bridge where West Overcliff Drive crosses above the chine.

Zanda, who asked not to give her surname, was walking past at 1pm.

She said: “We saw police at the steps near the bridge.

“They had the steps taped off.”

The police cordon was removed by 2pm and the matter has now been passed to the coroner.

Barbara Andrews, 66, walking her dog Prince from their home in Westbourne, said: “It’s so sad and I feel for her family.”

The Reverend Richard Burfoot, from West Cliff Baptist Church, was also walking his dog. He added:” It’s sad for the locality when somebody dies in difficult circumstances.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "At 10.10am we received a report that a local woman in her 70s was discovered with head injuries and was unconscious.

"Police and ambulance attended the scene and she was conveyed to Southampton General Hospital where sadly she has since died.

"Police are not treating the death as suspicious.”

The woman’s next of kin have been informed.