A VEHICLE has been seized in Nelson after an elderly woman died hours after being found injured by the side of a main road in Dorset.

Police in Dorset said a man, from Nelson, in his mid-50s, who is believed to have been the driver of the 7.5 tonne box van, has been interviewed by officers, but has not been arrested.

Officers are now awaiting the results of forensic tests on the vehicle and also the results of a post mortem examination on the 68-year old woman, due to take place at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, on Tuesday.

The woman, from Corfe Mullen, was found by an off-duty police officer lying to the side of the main A31 road, near Sturminster Marshall, near Wimborne at 5.05pm on Tuesday.

It is believed that the woman had been walking along the side of the road in a westerly direction towards the Roundhouse roundabout.

She was found conscious and breathing at the scene and was treated by paramedics before being taken to Poole Hospital with what were then believed to be minor injuries.

But she died at Poole Hospital at around 11.30am yesterday.

The 68-year old woman had been reported missing from an address in Wimborne Road, Corfe Mullen, by her husband at 4.11pm on Tuesday and police were searching for her when she was found lying on the main road.

Witnesses and anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 01202 222 222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.