A 58-year-old woman has died after she was hit by a tractor on a Fair Oak country lane.

The woman, from Bitterne in Southampton, was walking around a bend on Allington Lane when she was struck by a green agricultural tractor thought to have been travelling in the same direction.

She was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester with a police escort but was pronounced dead by doctors shortly after her arrival.

The 45-year-old male driver from Fair Oak, who was pulling an empty trailer, was not hurt in the incident, which happened at 7.30am. The road was closed until about 12.15pm yesterday as scenes-of-crime investigators scoured the area for clues.

Investigating officer Pc Phil Mason, based at Eastleigh police, said a first account of what had happened had since been taken from the driver.

He added that police are hoping to gather further information from witnesses who may have been in the area at the time.

PC Mason said: "We have some witnesses but we could do with some more."

He said they were particularly keen to speak to two drivers, thought to have overtaken the tractor as it turned into Allington Lane, who could provide information about the woman's whereabouts before the accident happened.

Few neighbours appeared to have witnessed the event but the road is normally busy with

drivers heading to a local car boot sale, which takes place on Sunday mornings.

Margaret Raff, who lives yards from where the accident happened, said: "The first thing I heard was a police car coming and when the sirens stopped I knew there was something out in the lane near us, but I didn't see anything other than that."

Another resident, Jan Combes, said: "This road is very dangerous. If the hedges were cut more often it would be safer.

"It's very sad. I feel very sorry for both the family and the driver of the tractor."

Anyone with any information regarding the accident is asked to contact PC Phil Mason at Eastleigh Traffic Division on 0845 045 45 45.