A PENSIONER heading for a bingo session was critically injured when she was hit by a bus in a rush-hour accident.

Phylis McDonnell, 80, of The Gore Hill Estate, Thornley, in east Durham, suffered severe head injuries and was airlifted to Newcastle General Hospital after being struck by the single- decker that she had been travelling on.

The accident happened in Sherburn Road, on the outskirts of Durham City, near the Majestic Bingo Hall, where Mrs McDonnell is a regular player, just before 5.30pm on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Durham Police said she was struck at low speed by an Arriva bus - on the 22 Durham to Peterlee route - as it was pulling away from the stop.

The road was closed for two hours while police accident specialists investigated the accident.

Mrs McDonnell's condition in hospital was yesterday said to be critical. No one else is thought to have been injured and passengers were transferred to another bus to continue their journey.

Players and staff at the Majestic were shocked to learn that one their players had been knocked over.

Wendy Pallister, who works at the club, was waiting at a bus stop on the other side of the road when the accident happened.

Ms Pallister said: "My friend shouted 'she's been hit'. I have been knocked over myself before and could not bring myself to turn around the look."

Ms Pallister said Mrs McDonnell was on her way to join the evening's games, which began at 6pm.

She added: "A lot of the people here know her. They were quite shocked about it."

A spokesman for Arriva said: "At this point we are providing the police with our full support and our thoughts are with the lady involved and all of her family.''

He added that while the investigation was being carried out the driver involved in the accident would not be driving.

Police have issued an appeal for information and are urging anyone who saw the accident to contact the Durham force's accident investigation unit on 0845- 60-60-365.