A woman who suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a bus is fighting for her life.

Police were called to Cromer Road in Norwich at 9.30am on Friday, after the pedestrian was hit by the 603 airport service close to the junction with Heather Avenue.

The woman, aged in her 60s, was initially taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with serious injuries, but later airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Jasmine Knowles was returning to her home in Cromer with her partner when the crash happened.

She said: 'We were driving right behind the bus, and we were just past the Jaguar showroom. The bus just did an emergency stop and the end just lifted up and we saw something hit the windscreen.

'We jumped out of the car and ran over. She was just lying there, half under the bus.

'The bus driver put his jacket over her to keep her warm.

'It happened just past the hairdressers. All of them came running out with towels to put under her head.'

She said an ambulance arrived at the scene almost instantly, and, after paramedics asked people to clear the scene, she helped direct traffic.

Miss Knowles said her partner, who was driving, said the woman had walked across the road, nearly getting hit by a van travelling towards the city, before the collision with the bus.

She added that the bus driver was 'fairly shaken', and despite people offering him a glass of water or a place to sit, he said he just wanted to make sure the woman was OK.

The bus, which was operated by Norse, was returning to Norwich International airport with two passengers on board.

Paula Sparkes, who lives nearby, ran the scene after her husband told her what had happened.

She said: 'A person was lying on the ground in front of the bus. They had been wrapped in a coat.'

Mrs Sparkes said the front windscreen of the bus, had been smashed, and she directed traffic away from the scene, while the woman was treated.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision and are particularly interested in speaking with two passengers who were on the bus but left the scene prior to police arriving. Anyone with information should call PC Shaun Turner at Acle Roads Policing on 101.