A Shropshire councillor who is in fighting for her life in hospital was knocked down on a stretch of road where she has been campaigning to get the speed limit reduced.

Beryl Pay, who is in her 60s, was in a serious but stable condition at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, today after she was involved in a collision with a car on the B4363 Oldbury Road, Bridgnorth, on Tuesday.

It is not clear what happened in the collision, but fellow councillors say it happened on a road where Councillor Pay has been working on getting the 40mph limit reduced because of concerns about the number of speeding motorists.

Councillor Brian Jones, Mayor of Bridgnorth, said he was shocked to hear about the collision and wished Councillor Pay a speedy recovery. He said the council was thinking about her husband, Pat, and their family.

“She is very committed to the town council and is very public spirited,” he said.

“She has been a town councillor for at least eight years and recommended me to become deputy mayor last year.

“We were all expecting her at a town council meeting on Tuesday night. We were surprised when she didn’t turn up or make any apologies, so this has come as a bit of a shock.

“Ironically, she has been the catalyst for trying to get the speed limit brought down to 30mph along that stretch of road.

“On behalf of the town council, we hope she makes a full and speedy recovery. We are all thinking about her husband and family,” he added.

Fellow Castle ward councillor Jennifer Durham said it was important not to jump to any conclusions about the collision.

“We don’t know the full story about what happened and the details will come out in the due course of time,” she said. 

“The one thing we shouldn’t do is speculate. 

“It has come as a shock to all of us and we’re all hoping she’s going to be okay.”

Councillor Pay was involved in a collision with a silver Vauxhall Vectra car in Oldbury Road, at its junction with Manor Farm Lane, while walking her dog on Tuesday afternoon. Police believe she was walking in the road when she was hit.

She was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital with serious head and arm injuries before later being transferred to the neuro-critical care ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The road was closed and diversions put in place until just after 7pm while police collision investigators worked and the car was recovered. 

Anyone who witnessed the collision or the pedestrian or car in the area prior to the incident is asked to contact Bridgnorth Police on 08457 444888.

By Jonathan Wood