FOUR people were left seriously injured yesterday afternoon when a car hit them as they walked along a town centre pavement.

The emergency services were alerted to the drama in Institute Road, Swanage, shortly before 2.30pm.

The air ambulance along with land ambulances and support vehicles and the police all flocked to the scene.

Two men and two women were taken to hospital with what police described as serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

One, an elderly man, was flown to Poole Hospital. The others were taken by road.

Institute Road and High Street remained closed for more than three hours as accident investigators combed the area for clues as to what happened.

Speaking to the Daily Echo on the scene, Inspector Shawn Whitley, of Dorset Police, said that all four pedestrians were on the pavement at the moment of impact.

Betty Slater, owner of Jenkins newsagents in the High Street, said as the horror unfolded: “I have just been hearing reports that four people were knocked over on the pavement outside the fancy dress shop.

“It is very narrow and the lorries park along the pavement to unload. They should do something about it, perhaps put some railings up.”

Nick Waterman, 54, who owns a toy shop near to where the crash happened, told the Echo the driver said there was a wasp in the car.

Witness David Martin, who works in Swanage, said paramedics were “all over the town” and the incident appeared “very serious”.

He added: “There are lots of paramedics and ambulances all over the place, the High Street has been shut and the coastguard helicopter has landed at the recreation ground.

“As I was leaving Swanage two more ambulances came across from the Sandbanks Ferry side.

"We’ve heard that four people have been knocked over. It looks as if this is a really serious incident.”

Another witness told the Echo: “The scene is horrific really. I saw ambulances, police cars, casualties laying on the pavement being treated by paramedics.

“No one is saying exactly what has happened, but it looks awful.”

Police said that the car involved was a red Seat Ibiza, being driven by a man from Wareham.

Last night officers said that the circumstances of the collision were under investigation and a man aged in his 20s was assisting them with their enquiries.

No arrests had been made as the Daily Echo went to press. Inspector Whitley said: “I would like to issue a very big thank you to colleagues from HM Coastguard who were in the area at the time of the collision and helped officers at the scene with what was initially a very challenging situation.

“We are also grateful to the many members of the public who helped treat the injured and offered support to officers.”