AN 84-year-old woman is in a critical condition after being hit by her husband’s car as he tried to parallel park.

The woman is thought to have been helping her husband park when she suffered injuries to her head, throat and legs, including various broken bones.

The local couple were preparing to shop at a Tesco Express store in Canada Close, Peacehaven, on Easter Sunday when the accident happened.

The driver, also 84, hit three parked cars – a Lexus, a Mazda S Sport and a Vauxhall Astra – as well as a wall before the automatic Toyota Yaris came to rest by a lamp post.

It is understood his wife, who was a passenger, got out of the car at some point during the manoeuvre.

Emergency services were called to Canada Close just after 10am.

The woman was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

She remains in a critical but stable condition after being placed in a medically induced coma, and police are waiting to speak to her once she is well enough.

The driver, who was shaken but unhurt, was breathalysed by police as a precaution but not arrested.

A member of staff at Tesco was said to have held the woman in her arms while waiting for an ambulance.

Grace Palmer, 29, of The Swallows, Peacehaven, said of the Tesco worker: “She looked quite shaken up, having sat with the woman, covered in blood.

“I saw the car up against the lamp post and five police cars parked outside the front of Tesco.”

Another onlooker, who did did wish to be named, said: “It looked like a bit of a nightmare.”

Tesco confirmed a member of staff had helped the woman while waiting for an ambulance.

A spokesman said: “We wish the lady a quick and full recovery.”