A WOMAN in her 80s was rushed to hospital with serious facial injuries after being run over by a mobility scooter.

The incident occurred on East Walk, Basildon, outside NatWest by the Eastgate Shopping Centre at about 1.30pm on Saturday, during a particularly busy shopping day on the last weekend before Christmas.

The woman received serious injuries to her face, head and leg and was taken to Basildon Hospital, where her condition is being described as serious but stable.

The area was cordoned off by police and shoppers reported seeing blood on the floor where the incident had taken place.

Staff at nearby stores Greggs and Crazy Dan’s House of Meat said they only became aware an accident had taken place following the sound of ambulance sirens due to the sheer volume of shoppers in their units and the general area.

It is not known whether congested conditions on the walkway contributed to the incident.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to East Walk, Basildon, at 1.35pm on Saturday, December 20, to reports of a road traffic accident involving a mobility scooter which was in collision with a pedestrian in her 80s.

“The woman, from Basildon, suffered serious head, facial and leg injuries and was taken to Basildon Hospital, where her condition was reported to be serious but stable.

“The rider of the scooter was also a woman from Basildon.

“The incident is being investigated by officers from the Road Policing Unit at Laindon.”