A WOMAN was taken to hospital after she was knocked down on a pedestrian crossing in Highams Park this morning (Friday).

The woman, believed to be aged between 38 and 40, was hit by a white van at about 11.30am as she was crossing The Broadway.

Eye-witness Ashton Grimes, 17, of Aldriche Way, said: "She hurt her hip and had to be taken to hospital. It was my friend's mum who was hurt."

Andrew Shewan, 66, a delivery man for Glyn Hopkin, was turning into The Broadway from Larkshall Road when a four by four shot out in front of him.

He broke suddenly and was then distracted by a boy riding his bike along the railway lines as the barriers were coming down meaning he failed to notice until late that the woman was crossing the road.

Mr Shewan said: "I hit the brakes, I was only doing four to five miles at the most and I just bumped into her.I was shocked. I parked my van and went over to see if she was alright."

Ambulance staff treated the woman for minor injuries before she was taken to Whipps Cross University Hospital.