A CCTV image has been released as police appeal for witnesses to a crash in which a young woman was left fighting for life.

Police want to hear from the driver of the vehicle pictured in the CCTV image following the incident on Wimborne Road in Poole on Sunday February 22.

Officers were called at 10.17pm following a crash between a blue Peugeot 206 and a female pedestrian at the junction of Bailey Crescent.

The car was heading towards Fleetsbridge when the collision took place.

The pedestrian, 28-year-old Laura Watson, was taken to Poole General Hospital after the incident.

She has since been transferred to Southampton Hospital, having had sustained serious injuries, and remains in a critical condition.

Police Constable Jay Griffin, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “Analysis of some CCTV footage, taken prior to the incident, has shown that a small red sports car, pictured in the CCTV image, pulled up alongside the blue Peugeot at the traffic lights at Oakdale outside of the OneStop store. Both vehicles then drive off in the direction of the alleged collision.

“I am keen to locate the driver of the red sports car as a potential witness to the incident or the manner of driving by the blue Peugeot. I would like to stress that there is no indication that the driver of the red car was involved in the collision.

“I am appealing to this driver and anyone who witnessed the collision to call me in confidence.”

Laura’s friends have started a Team Laura Facebook page to provide a focal point for fundraising efforts in a bid to help Laura’s family stay at her bedside.

Laura, who works at the Fleetsbridge Tesco superstore, has been in an induced coma since the crash.

A 25-year-old man from Poole has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences and released on bail until the beginning of April.

Witnesses can call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 22:0391 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.