A LORRY driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a disabled New Forest pensioner was killed in a horrific accident.

An elderly woman was using an electric buggy when she was in collision with a Tesco lorry in Lymington on Saturday.

Her body was trapped for several hours after the accident, which happened on a pedestrian crossing at Stanford Hill.

Police used plastic sheeting to screen the front of the lorry from passers-by, including shoppers going to a nearby Safeway store.

Accident investigators entered the cab of the Mercedes articulated heavy goods vehicle and photographed its interior, including the steering wheel and the instrument panel.

A police spotter plane hovered overhead while a photographer took aerial pictures of the scene that could help with the inquiry.

The accident took place directly below a CCTV camera, but it is not yet known if the collision was caught on film.

Witnesses said the victim, who came from Pennington, had a reputation for riding her buggy on the road.

The accident happened outside Bucklers Court, where residents said they heard the sound of a vehicle braking.

The eastbound carriageway of Stanford Hill remained open, but the westbound lane was closed for several hours while police recovered the woman's body and investigated the collision.

Westbound traffic was sent back towards the town centre, increasing the congestion caused by the weekly market in the High Street.

A police spokesman said: "A woman in an electric wheelchair was fatally injured in a collision with a lorry.

"As part of the investigation, a 44-year-old man from West Molesey, Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by

dangerous driving."

Police said the pensioner had been riding her buggy along the pavement of the southern side of Priestlands Place before the incident.

Officers said the collison happened on the pelican crossing as the HGV was being driven out of Lymington High Street along the A337 just after 11.30am on Saturday.

The victim, who has not yet been formally identified, was certified dead at the scene.

At least two people saw the accident and gave statements, but anyone else who witnessed the collision should ring the roads policing unit at Totton on 0845 045 4545.