A 23-year-old man has been charged after a pedestrian was left critically injured when a car being pursued by police struck him in Taunton. The collision happened in East Reach at around 11.15pm on Friday, 6 November.

Jack Hawkings, of Bramley Close, Wellington, has been charged with four offences: causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and driving without insurance or a licence. He remains in police custody and is due to appear at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 November.

Police said officers activated their lights and sirens after spotting a vehicle without a front number plate, leading to a pursuit through Taunton town centre. The pursuit ended when the Audi A3 hit a man in his seventies, and officers stopped to give him emergency treatment before he was taken to hospital.

The pedestrian was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in a critical condition. Two women, aged 21 and 22, who were arrested at the same time have been released on conditional bail.

Avon and Somerset Police said they are liaising with the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is standard procedure in incidents of this kind. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call 101 and quote reference 5226360682.