The 81-year-old woman was airlifted to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry after she was hit by a gas tanker in Harborough town centre yesterday (Tuesday, June 30)

The incident happened near the traffic lights in High Street, close to the Coventry Road turn at about 10.20am.

The woman was airlifted as a precaution because she suffered a head injury and broken ribs.

But Insp Neal Holland, head of Harborough police, told the Mail today (Wednesday, July 1) that scans had revealed her injuries were not serious and it is expected she will be allowed home later this week.

Shoppers rushed to her aid after the woman was hit by the truck at about 10.20am and were quickly joined by a paramedic.

Several onlookers then directed traffic before police attended and closed the road.

The Air Ambulance landed on the strip of grass between Brooklands Gardens Day Centre and the River Welland at about 10.45am.

The woman was then stretchered across The Square and over the footbridge across the river before being airlifted to Coventry's Walsgrave Hospital at about 11.10am.

Police cordoned off an area around the lorry while they carried out investigations and spoke to the driver of the tanker.

Insp Holland said the driver will be interviewed by officers from the road policing unit in due course.