THE man badly injured when a car mounted the pavement in Colchester's North Hill has been named.

John Pearce, a father of two from Hamilton Road, was walking to work at the North Hill Barbers when a dark grey convertible Volskwagen Golf was shunted onto the pavememnt.

The incident happened opposite the Sixth Form College at about 8.45am on Tuesday.

Gary Sanderson, from the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "We dispatched one ambulance, two ambulance officers and two doctors to the scene."

Paramedics spent 45 minutes working on the casualty, a man in his 40s, before he was taken to Colchester General Hospital.

It was initially feared his injuries were life-threatening, but his condition was later reported to be serious but stable.

He underwent surgery this afternoon for serious crush injuries to his legs and pelvis.

The drivers of the vehicles were shaken but unhurt.

Staff from the college rushed to help the pedestrian, while dozens of students gathered on the street to watch the emergency services.

Contrary to rumours, police said that neither driver was using a mobile phone at the time of the crash.

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