A HAMPSHIRE mum has died after being hit by a car on Boxing Day before being dragged for a mile and then left for dead.

Mum of two Carolyn Boylan suffered horrific injuries following the collision near to her friend's home in Somerset.

The 28-year-old, from Hardy Road, Eastleigh, had been visiting friends in the town of Crewkerne with her eight-year-old daughter and ten-year-old son.

She was struck by a vehicle as she walked in the West Street area of the town shortly after 9pm. Police say another car was then involved and Ms Boylan became trapped underneath it.

Passers-by called 999 after he found Ms Boylan unconscious, lying in the road near to the Travellers Rest pub in the nearby village of Roundham.

Tragically she died from her injuries at 5am on Friday in Bristol's Frenchay Hospital.

Neighbours today spoke of their shock at the death of bubbly young mum.

Linda Wright, who lives next door, said: "Carolyn was a lovely bubbly person who was always laughing. We always knew she was home because you could hear her laugh.

"She also loved doing karaoke and used to practice her singing at home.

"Carolyn was a cheery person, but kept herself to herself and didn't really mix with the neighbours. She had her own circle of friends."

Mrs Wright, who lives with her husband Martin, added: "We didn't really see a lot of her because she did some sort of nursing work at night and slept during the day.

"When she was at work her children went to stay with Carolyn's mother, who also lives in Eastleigh."

Ms Boylan is thought to have been separated from her husband and had gone to spend time with friends over Christmas.

Her two young children, thought to attend Cherbourg Primary School in Cherbourg Road, are today being comforted by family members.

The semi-detached house yesterday lay silent and deserted, the back lawn strewn with discarded cycles and children's toys as the family cat pitifully sat on the front doorstep waiting to be let in.

Speaking to the Daily Echo yesterday, pub landlady Diane Johnson told how she and her partner Peter Barnes were two of the first people on the scene and how they battled to save the young mum and kept her warm with blankets.

Miss Johnson said: "We helped as far as we possibly could. One of us was with her all the time.

"I put her into the recovery position. Her injuries were horrific. Everyone thought she might die before the ambulance arrived."

Mr Barnes used his car headlights to light up the scene and regulars from the pub helped keep the road safe until police arrived.

Mr Barnes said: "When I went out there it was a horrific sight. The young woman was mumbling incoherently. When I heard she had been dragged for a mile I couldn't believe she was still alive. I find it hard to believe someone could have driven for so long dragging a woman without noticing it or doing something."

The road was closed for 12 hours while forensic investigations were carried out, dog handlers searched for clues and detectives made door-to-door enquiries.

Police have said they are treating the death as suspicious and have set up a special incident room at Yeovil police station.

They were today appealing for help in finding the car - thought to be a silver or light coloured saloon - and the driver involved.

A spokesman said: "We are urgently trying to find the car involved. There are eyewitness accounts that she was dragged along the road and we can establish that from her injuries."

Detective Inspector John Forrest, heading the investigation added: "We are following up several lines of inquiry but are still keen to trace anyone who was travelling along the A30 between Crewkerne and Chard between 9.15pm and 10pm on Boxing Day.

"We have spoken to the driver of the first vehicle and the driver we are seeking to trace is the driver of the vehicle under which the body of Ms Boylan was trapped."