AN elderly pedestrian who was in collision with a van as he walked yards from his Canford Cliffs home has died.

The Poole pensioner, named locally as 85-year-old John Hudson, was hurt at the junction of Cliff Drive and Bodley Road on Sunday morning.

Police and paramedics attended the scene – close to a popular children’s play area and the New Beehive Hotel – and he was rushed to Poole Hospital where emergency medics were standing by.

The pensioner, of Beaumont Road, was then transferred to a specialist unit at Southampton General Hospital but died on the same night.

A Dorset Police spokesman said the van was being driven by a 36-year-old Christchurch man.

Resident Frances Reynolds, 47, a self-employed business woman, said: “Our neighbour Jim was trying to fix the leak on his roof and he heard the accident.

“I think he put some blankets on the older man because it was just heaving with rain.

“I saw the windscreen of the van was shattered and the bonnet was bent up a bit.”

Husband Tom, 56, an architect, said: “The van driver looked shook up, you could tell by his body language.

“The van was facing toward the village.

“We are campaigning to get speed bumps. It’s the second serious accident in three months.

“A cyclist was knocked off his bike.

“There are a lot of kids and young families moving into the area, and a lot of elderly people.”

A 69-year-old man said: “The roads were blocked off by three police cars and there were three ambulances.

“Later on the police were taking photographs and it was all taped off.”

Neighbour Martin Lee, 59, who has a digital images business, said Mr Hudson was “an absolute gentleman”.

“He was quiet and unobtrusive but friendly,” said Mr Lee.

“He talked to my kids quite a lot and was charming.

“His wife had died of cancer and he lived alone. He went up the road for a newspaper every day.

“His kids came down regularly to check he was ok. His daughter was a doctor.”

A shop worker in Canford Cliffs village said: “He was absolutely lovely.”

The coroner has been informed and an inquest should be opened and adjourned shortly.

Any witnesses to the collision, which happened around 11.30am, should call Dorset Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.