A POLICE chase in which a pedestrian was struck and injured and a car hit a wall and burst into flames has been referred to an independent watchdog.

The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) will "carefully assess" the incident, in which a 26-year-old man was seriously injured.

Police followed a Volvo onto Bevois Hill after it failed to stop yesterday afternoon.

The car swerved around the corner of a junction and hit a pedestrian.

It then rolled and swung into the wall as it became engulfed in flames – destroying the vehicle.

The pedestrian was rushed by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital with leg injuries.

He has been described as being in a serious condition.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: "We have received a referral from Hampshire Police after a car that failed to stop for police was involved in a collision with a pedestrian and other vehicles.

"We will now be carefully assessing this to determine the level, if any, of our involvement.”

A 20-year-old man was arrested following the crash, which happened shortly before 2.15pm on Tuesday.

He remains in custody, on suspicion of driving dangerously, failing to stop, and causing grievous bodily harm.

As well as the police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene after the Volvo caught fire and crashed into the wall – wrecking the corner of the junction of Forster Road.

The fire spread to debris in the road as an engine from Eastleigh put out the fire.

Pictures from the scene show the inside of the car melted away as forensic teams collected evidence.

South Central Ambulance Service confirmed that the pedestrian, a man, remained in hospital with serious leg injuries after they were taken by air to the hospital.

A road ambulance and paramedic responders were also on scene as the road was shut off for the rest of yesterday afternoon.