POLICE have launched an investigation after a female pedestrian was knocked down and killed by a car in Southampton.

The tragedy, just five days into the new year, occurred in The Avenue, close to its junction with Padwell Road, in the early hours of Saturday.

A 26-year-old woman was fatally injured in a collision with a white Ford Fiesta driven by a man in his twenties.

It comes three months after another fatal accident in The Avenue, which is one of the city’s busiest roads.

Last night people living in the area spoke of their shock after learning that another tragedy had occurred on their doorstep.

A woman whose home overlooks the scene of the latest collision said: “We were here at the time but I didn’t know anything about it.

“I’m so sorry to hear that someone has lost their life.”

Police cordoned off the scene of the crash, which occurred near a bus stop outside buildings owned by Choice Financial Solutions and the charity Solent Mind.

The car was travelling towards the city centre when the accident happened at around 1.40am.

Police are trying to establish how the vehicle came to collide with the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The following day temporary road markings left by crash scene investigators were still visible.

A police spokesman said: “We would like to talk to anyone who saw what happened or has dash cam footage. We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen the woman immediately prior to the collision.”

Police say no further information about the incident, including the identity of the victim, will be issued until later today at the earliest.

Signs appealing for witnesses have been placed at the scene of the accident and a few hundred yards further north at the junction of The Avenue and Lodge Road.

The collision comes three months almost to the day since another fatal accident in The Avenue.

On October 4 John Hall, 45, of Rectory Court in Botley, died when his red and grey Triumph motorbike was involved in an accident with a silver-coloured Volkswagen Touran.

The Volkswagen was being driven by a 35-year-old Southampton woman. She and her passenger, a 15-year-old girl, were both treated for shock.

Mr Hall’s family thanked members of the public who stopped at the scene to try to help the injured motorcyclist.

Anyone with information about Saturday's collision should call 101, quoting 44190005121.