TRANSPORT chiefs will be asked to investigate the safety of a Hampshire road after a bus accident left a woman with life-threatening injuries.

The 45-year-old pedestrian was last night fighting for her life in Southampton General Hospital after she was hit by a single-decker bus in Rumbridge Street in Totton.

Now New Forest District Council's chief engineer is set to examine whether the route needs to be made safer when it undergoes a programme of improvements this summer.

Police were called to the scene - near Junction Road - at about 7.15pm on Wednesday night amid reports that a Blue Star bus had hit the woman.

It is believed that she stepped off the pavement on to the road moments before the accident.

Ambulance crews arrived and treated the patient on the scene before rushing her to hospital.

A spokesman from Blue Star buses said three passengers were onboard the number eight service from Totton to Hythe and that the driver had been left shaken by what had happened.

Public relations manager Chris Harris said: "Our bus driver is just very upset that there was no way he could have avoided her.

"He will be mentored and cared for by our usual procedures."

Totton and Eling Town Council chairman Di Brooks said she had since asked district council road-safety bosses to examine the area to see where improvements could be made.

And ward councillor Neville Penman called for a thorough examination of safety measures on the route.

He said: "The safety of the road needs to be looked at. We need to have a survey.

"It is a bad corner and people do cross quite close to the junction.

"We really should have something there."