PENSIONER John Braithwaite was fighting for his life in hospital yesterday after being struck by a lorry near his Ogbourne St George home.

Mr Braithwaite, 72, was attempting to cross the main A346 Marlborough to Swindon road near the Ogbourne Downs Golf Club at about 3.30pm on Monday when the accident occurred.

He was airlifted to Swindon's Great Western Hospital with what police described as "very severe and life threatening injuries".

Mr Braithwaite was admitted to the intensive care unit where he remained yesterday with his wife, Cynthia, and sons Mark and Chris at his bedside.

A police spokesman said Mr Braithwaite's condition remained "critical".

Mr and Mrs Braithwaite have lived for many years in Liddiards Green in Ogbourne where neighbours described them as a very close couple.

In his retirement Mr Braithwaite has enjoyed crossing over from the village to the golf club where he regularly called in at the professional's shop for a chat.

Most days he likes to walk around the golf course and its driving range collecting wayward balls.

A member of staff in the professional Andy Kirk's shop said: "He is a nice old guy who likes to come in for a chat and then go out around the driving range looking for lost balls."

One of Mr Braithwaite's sons, Mark, is a Police Community Support Officer at Calne and is also a member of the retained fire service in Marlborough.

Police closed the Marlborough-Swindon road and operated diversions for four hours after the accident.

Any witnesses who saw Mr Braithwaite at the roadside waiting to cross are asked to contact WPC Kathy Holland the police traffic unit at Salisbury on (01722) 435357.