A PENSIONER was left shaken after she was nearly knocked down by a scooter being ridden on a pavement.

Doreen Patterson had gone for a walk from her home in Plough Drive, Prettygate, Colchester, when she came across roadworks.

She was about to walk along Hills Crescent when a scooter revved past her on the path.

Doreen, 74, who runs the Prettygate Knit and Natter group, said: “The roadworks have been going on all week.

“There was a big lorry parked in the road and the right of way is left to the traffic’s discretion.

“I was just about to turn on to The Commons and an old fashioned scooter came up onto the pavement next to me. I was startled.”

Doreen was not knocked over but said it was a near miss.

She said: “Where I twisted around to see the scooter I have torn my side, I was in agony and was so shaken up.”

Doreen, who suffered a bad fall at home last year, added: “He was oblivious I had been there with my tripod walker.

“If he hit me my right leg would have gone.

“Fortunately there was no-one standing at the bus stop as he would have taken them out as well.

“The lorry driver came out to ask if I was OK and used some nice language about the scooter rider who did not want to wait for the traffic coming the other way.

“The lorry driver radioed across to his team to try to stop the scooter.

“The rider knew he had done wrong. He shouldn’t have been on the pavement.”

Mrs Patterson called police following the incident which happened at about 10.30am on Wednesday.

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 10.55am on Wednesday with reports a moped mounted a path in Hills Crescent, Colchester and brushed past an elderly pedestrian.

“Fortunately she was not injured, but was left shaken.

“Anyone who saw what happened is asked to call 101 quoting incident 429 of July 3.”

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.