AN elderly golfer was knocked down and killed as he took part in a competition.

The man, who has not yet been named, was taking part in an open competition at Droitwich Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, when he was struck by a Volkswagen Polo in Crutch Lane. Players must cross the road to get from one side of the course to the other.

Chris Thompson, secretary at the club, which is situated in the adjoining Ford Lane, said: "Everybody's shocked - it's tragic. "Nobody can remember there being an accident like this on the road. The first I knew about it was when I head the air ambulance coming over.

"Initially, I didn't think anything of it because we get helicopters over quite regularly."

Mr Thompson said the man, who is believed to be in his late 70s, was not a member of the club, but had been visiting the 18-hole course from another club.

"They were playing in groups, but I don't think they knew one another," he added.

The car was travelling along Crutch Lane, from the direction of Upton Warren, when the accident happened at 2.55pm.

The man was taken by land ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but died of his injuries later that afternoon.

The police have been back to the site to collect the man's car, but have not yet released his identity.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact South Worcestershire Police on 08457 444888, quoting incident number 0412-S-140606, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

l A woman is critically ill after her car was in a head-on smash near Bromyard. Firefighters cut the woman free from the wreckage of her red Peugeot 106 following the collision on the A44 Bromyard to Worcester road in Bringsty on Tuesday.

The car had been in collision with a silver Citroen Saxo, heading north, near the Bannut Garden and Nursery, just before 4pm. She was airlifted to Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital with serious head and leg injuries and she remains in a critical condition.

The male driver of the Citroen sustained a foot injury and was taken to Worcester Royal Hospital. The driver of a third vehicle was uninjured. The road was closed until about 8pm, while investigators examined the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hereford Road Policing Unit on 08457 444888.