'Police crash' man critically ill

A man seriously injured when he was hit by a van being pursued by police in Buckinghamshire is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

The white van, being followed by officers when it hit the pedestrian in Oxford Road, High Wycombe, on Wednesday afternoon, failed to stop at the scene.

The victim, aged in his 50s, was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks.

Thames Valley Police referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

'Rogue traders'

Police want to talk to the two men who were in the white transit panel van, which had the registration RY54 USN. It hit the pedestrian at about 1500 GMT.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "The van was being followed by a marked police car, after police were called to the Deeds Grove area in response to a crime in progress.

"An elderly woman had called police, reporting that rogue traders were at her home demanding a large amount of money from her."

Det Ch Insp Joe Kidman, the officer leading the investigation, added: "An incident room, staffed by detectives and roads policing officers, has been set up and is actively pursuing lines of inquiry.

"Nevertheless, we really need to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the van before or after the crash."

Anyone with information is asked to call Thames Valley Police.