A WITNESS has described how emergency services tried to save a pedestrian who was killed when he was struck by a police car.

Bouquets of flowers were left below police signs at the scene of the crash near the Hastings Pier. A note which read: "James, from Clive, Vix, Chloe, Ryan, Jonah." was attached to one bunch.

The man, believed to be local and in his 40s, died at around 7.20pm when he was struck on the A259 at White Rock at the junction with the A21 Havelock Road in Hastings, East Sussex, despite efforts by police officers and paramedics to save him.

Nearby resident Chris Paraskeva, 61, who lives opposite the crash site, witnessed the aftermath of the collision.

The antiques dealer said: "I returned home five minutes after it happened. I could see CPR being carried out on someone.

"There was a bus parked further up. There was one police vehicle and then others arrived. In total, there were 12 police vehicles.

"They were just working on somebody lying down, then the ambulance arrived, and it went on and on and on for some time.

"It was apparent to me that he was dead not long after the ambulance arrived."

The police car, carrying two officers, was responding to a report that a car being driven by a disqualified driver had been seen in the area.

One of the officers was slightly injured in the collision. The car believed to be carrying the disqualified driver has not been traced, Sussex Police said.

A police spokesman said the incident was being referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

He said: "The full circumstances of the incident have yet to be established and it will be referred to the IPCC."

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting Operation Marshside.