DETECTIVES are attempting to solve the mystery of a woman found seriously injured at a New Forest bank.

Police launched a major inquiry yesterday after the woman was discovered slumped outside Lloyds TSB in Lyndhurst High Street just after 5.30am.

The 51-year-old was taken to Southampton General Hospital with what police described as “a serious head injury”.

Detectives are trying to establish if she was assaulted or fell and hit her head. Police believe she may have fallen from a nearby window and either walked or crawled to the bank.

It is thought she was staying at the Fox and Hounds pub, directly opposite the bank, but when contacted by the Daily Echo, staff there refused to discuss the incident.

A man on his way to work found the woman in the entrance to the bank lobby, which contains a cash machine and is open 24 hours a day.

Shopkeepers arriving for work a few hours later saw the bank taped off and several police vehicles parked outside.

Det Sgt Andy Lupton, of Lyndhurst CID, said: “At this stage it’s not clear how the woman’s injury was caused.

“We’re carrying out a number of enquiries to confirm whether a crime has taken place or whether the woman fell and was unable to get help.”

The bank is next door to teddy bear shop, Paws in the Forest, run by Maggie Parma and her husband John. Mrs Parma said: “I got a bit of a fright when I got here at 9am and saw all the tape.

“I thought someone had broken into my shop but it wasn’t as simple as that.

“When I spoke to the police they said someone had been found seriously injured in the foyer of the bank.”