A DRIVER is in intensive care and a horse has been put down after they both were involved in a road smash between Colden Common and Fair Oak.

The accident happened after one of two horses, which were both being walked along the side of Winchester Road, shied and caused a passing bus to swerve.

The southbound Solent Blue Line bus took avoiding action and collided with a Ford Fiesta travelling in the opposite direction at 5.25pm yesterday.

The 41-year-old female Fiesta driver, who is from Eastleigh, was yesterday in intensive care at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

The 26-year-old male bus driver, from Southampton, suffered bruising to his right knee but declined medical attention. The horse involved in the accident has had to be put down as a result of his injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened very near to the Fox and Hounds pub.