An 81-year-old woman has serious injuries following a hit-and-run in Broadstone

The collision took place around 2.50pm this afternoon in Macaulay Road.

The road has been closed while emergency services deal with the incident.

Sgt Nikki Burt told the Daily Echo a witness appeal has been launched following the incident.

"We have got an elderly lady - an 81-year-old pedestrian - who has been hit by a vehicle which has failed to stop at the scene," she said.

"She is at Poole hospital with serious injuries. Her injuries at not believed to be life-threatening at this stage.

"We want to hear from any witnesses to the collision in relation to a white/light-coloured van.

"Anyone who sees this vehicle with damage to the front or if a relative is acting suspiciously please get in touch."

Retired resident Karen Robertson, 62, said it was the first time she'd ever heard of such an incident taking place in her road.

"We were in the back garden and I heard a bit of a commotion and heard someone shout 'quickly call an ambulance'," she said.

"I walked to the path and at that point there was one woman with her and someone who I thought was a nurse but turned out to be a vet.

"The lady wasn't moving at all at that point.

"Another woman came over and said she saw the white van. She said she saw the woman being thrown into the air.

"The witness said she didn't get the impression that the van was going very fast but why they didn't stop God only knows.

"You couldn't hit someone and not stop knowing you had done it."

Another Macaulay Road resident who asked not to be named said she helped direct traffic when she heard what had happened.

She said: "It wasn't until I went out and I looked up the road that I saw seven police cars.

"She must have been hit with some force. One woman told me she'd gone into the air."