A PENSIONER was killed in a hit-and-run accident as she crossed the street in Hove.

Daphne Fitzgerald, 80, was crossing the westbound carriageway of Kingsway when she was struck by a car outside the Neptune pub. She died at the scene.

Police said the light-coloured Ford Sierra which hit the

pensioner drove off after the accident, at 7.50pm.

A 24-year-old man was being questioned at Brighton police station today.

Mrs Fitzgerald lived alone in nearby Medina Terrace.

She had been in the Neptune earlier in the evening to wish a friend happy birthday and later went to over the road to The Sussex for a meal. She died as she returned across busy Kingsway.

Mrs Fitzgerald was a regular at the St Aubyns pub in

Victoria Terrace.

Landlady Jan Richard closed the pub early after hearing what had happened.

She said: "I let the regulars in but I turned off all the music and said if anyone wanted a happy, lively pub that night then they would have to go somewhere else.

"We will really miss Daphne. She had so many friends and she was a real lady.

"She was very intelligent and used to complete the Telegraph crossword every day. She was always out and about. You never would have thought she was 80."

Another friend at the Neptune, who gave her name only as Janine, was celebrating her birthday last night when she heard the news.

She said: "She came in and wished me happy birthday, and said 'I hate birthdays but happy birthday anyway'."

Another customer described Mrs Fitzgerald's "beautiful smile" when he saw her for the last time as she left the pub.

Janine said: "We heard this huge bang. My friend said to me 'What's that?' I thought it was a firework, it was so loud.

"The next thing I knew, somebody ran into the pub and said 'It's Daphne. She's dead.'

"She was a very dignified lady. In Hove, many people knew her. She was a character in this area and there are so few left."

There was anger among the drinkers about cars speeding along Kingsway. One said: "We have seen it many times before. This is a 30mph limit and people travel at 70mph here."

The westbound carriageway was still sealed off three hours after the accident, as crash investigators conducted a detailed search for evidence.

At least two drivers ignored the police road block and drove straight through as officers worked at the scene.

Police have appealed for anybody with information about the accident to come forward.

Anybody with information should contact Shoreham traffic police on 0845 6070 999.

James Puttnam, landlord of the Neptune said: "Cars go much too fast around here, where all the shops are. There is a crossing but you know you are going to have to stand and wait for ages if you use it and its tempting to cross without it."

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