STUNNED villagers have spoken of their shock after a former Spitfire pilot was badly injured in a hitand- run accident near his home.

Last night Doug Gregory, 92, remained seriously ill in Southampton General Hospital after being struck by a silver-coloured Nissan as he crossed Hampton Lane in Blackfield.

Mr Gregory, who lives in the village and was returning from the local shops, suffered a serious head injury in the collision.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the motorist involved in the incident later came forward and was interviewed under caution. Last night police confirmed that she had not been arrested.

During the Second World War Mr Gregory was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after surviving almost 70 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. He carried on flying after he left the RAF in 1946 and became Britain’s oldest stunt pilot, eventually retiring in 2013.

Mr Gregory was also a retired art tutor who taught at two schools – Noadswood in North Road, Dibden Purlieu, and Hardley, now the New Forest Academy.

Former pupils have turned to social media to express their shock at the accident, which happened just after 7am on Monday.

Maria Vallis tweeted: “You can get through this Mr Gregory. You are an amazing man.”

Ann Guy added: “He was one of those teachers you always looked up to.”

Phillipa Stanley said she spoke to Mr Gregory in a supermarket car park just minutes before the accident.

During the war Mr Gregory flew Beaufighters and Mosquitoes before testing a wide range of other aircraft, including Spitfires and Hurricanes.

In the 1980s he built a 1917- style bi-plane and joined the Great War Display Team, performing at aerobatic shows across the south.

In 2010 he and some of his fellow pilots took part in a dogfight over the New Forest to celebrate the centenary of the former Royal Flying Corps airfield at East Boldre.

Julian Lewis, the Tory parliamentary candidate in New Forest East, reviewed Mr Gregory’s autobiography after it was published in 2013.

He said: “I hope people will keep him in their thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time.”