A HAMPSHIRE pensioner was being comforted by relatives today after he killed his wife in a freak accident at a supermarket car park.

The 80-year-old man's common-law wife of 30 years died after the Maestro he was driving ran into her at the Lymington Safeway's store.

The local couple, who have not been named, are understood to have been leaving the Stanford Hill store at the time of the tragic accident at 10.50am yesterday.

Shop staff aided by building contractors working at the store administered first aid to the 77-year-old woman before emergency services arrived at the scene.

The woman was taken by ambulance to nearby Lymington Hospital, where she was pronounced dead just after midday.

Her husband was also taken to the hospital where he was treated for shock. It is understood he was later discharged and was being comforted by relatives at his home.

As police launched an investigation into the incident they appealed for a young man who was at the scene and moved the car after the collision to come forward.

Pc Nick Adams, who is investigating the incident, said: "We believe the young man, who is described as being in his late teens, can help us.

"We think he got lost in the crowd after the accident and may be worried that he is in trouble himself. I can assure him he isn't, and that he could be of great assistance to our inquiries." Adrian Harrison, manager at the store, declined to comment on the accident.

A spokesman for Safeway's head office said: "It would be inappropriate to comment on the matter as it is being dealt with by police."

Anyone with any further information is asked to contact Pc Adams at Lyndhurst Police station on 01703 282813.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.