Residents in a New Forest village have spoken of their shock after a pensioner was mown down and left on a grass verge in their village.

Police say the 73-year-old was the victim of an attempted murder and have launched an investigation.

Today a 72-year-old woman has been arrested and is being questioned by detectives.

As reported yesterday the victim was found lying injured in a road in the New Forest and taken to Southampton General Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

Detectives believe the man had been knocked over by a car during the incident at West Common, Langley, at about 12.45pm on Saturday.

Residents said police had been knocking on doors in the village questioning residents in the hunt for witnesses.

They spoke of their shock at what had happened and described seeing numerous paramedics and the air ambulance.

They said the road was closed until around 9pm Saturday.

One resident, 48, said: “I’m really surprised – our sleepy little West Common, this is the back of beyond.

“Initially we just assumed maybe someone had been knocked over – it was only when we came back and the road was still closed and the PC said it wasn’t as straightforward as it may seem.”

Another resident, Marlene Parmenter, 57, said: “We just thought someone had been knocked down, we didn’t think it was as serious as that.”

Officers sealed off a stretch of the road while they carried out investigations handing our leaflets appealing for information to residents.

Last night police confirmed they had arrested a woman from Southampton in connection with the incident and issued an appeal for witnesses.

Detective Inspector Gary Towse is leading the investigation.

He said: “We are treating this incident as an attempted murder and believe the man had been knocked over by a car and left in the verge.

“Were you in the area of West Common or Kings Ride between 11am and 1pm on Saturday?

“Did you see anything?

If you have any information, please contact us.”

Anyone with any information should contact Lyndhurst CID on 101 quoting Operation Instructional, or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.