A PUBLIC meeting will be held at Hythe after a pensioner was killed crossing a notoriously busy road.

The meeting will discuss calls for a crossing to be provided on the A326, which divides Hythe and Dibden Purlieu from the New Forest.

Gates in a roadside fence enable residents to cross to Dibden Inclosure, which is popular with joggers, ramblers and dog walkers.

Frank Harrison, 83, of Noads Way, Dibden Purlieu, was using one of the gates when he was hit by a car and killed.

As reported in the Daily Echo, he had earlier signed a petition calling for pedestrians to be provided with a bridge or a subway.

The petition, which has so far been signed by about 2,000 people, will be presented to Hythe and Dibden Parish Council on February 7.

Parish leaders have also agreed to hold a public meeting, even though the A326 is the responsibility of Hampshire County Council.

Parish council chairman David Smith said: "We take the safety of our residents very seriously and over many years have supported calls from both the public and councillors for a safe crossing to be provided."

Frank Harrison was exercising two dogs when he was killed by a Rover car driven by a 78-year-old man from Salisbury.

One of the dogs also died in the accident, which took place at the beginning of evening rush-hour on January 13.

The Daily Echo has received an e-mail from Mr Harrison's daughter, Kate Golden, who lives in Canada.

She said: "If there is any comfort to be gained from this terrible accident it is surely the knowledge that he did not suffer.

"He died doing something he liked doing (walking dogs) and the New Forest - a place he loved - was in his sight."