A PENSIONER has died and two others are seriously injured after they were involved in a collision with a car while crossing a road.

Residents living in Colehill say it's a notorious road and that this was an accident waiting to happen. They've been campaigning for months for measures to increase safety, including a "pedestrian refuge' in the middle of the road to make crossing easier. The group of pensioners had been returning from a Christmas coach trip when the accident happened.

A red Mercedes was in collision with the pedestrians - aged 91, 85 and 79 - on Middlehill Road at its junction with Weston Road at around 5.30pm on Saturday. A fourth pedestrian was uninjured.

They were taken to Poole Hospital where the 91-year-old man died of his injuries. It is thought Saturday may also have been his birthday.

The others sustained leg and chest injuries - their condition was described by police as "serious" yesterday.

The driver, a 40-year-old Wimborne woman, and her two young children were said to be shocked but uninjured.

Rev John Goodall of the nearby St Michael's and All Angels' Church, said: "The community is in shock at this tragedy. There is also some anger that this was an accident waiting to happen. It is a dreadful stretch of road."

Local resident Andrew Marsh said: "We always feared something like this would happen. The parish council has been asking for years to have a pedestrian refuge."

Police closed the road for several hours as crash investigators examined the scene. Witnesses to the collision or to the manner of driving before the collision are urged to call PC Julie Loveless at Ferndown Road Policing Unit on 01202 222222.

First published: December 19