NINE YEARS have passed since a Taunton police officer rode an elderly woman's mobility scooter through town while she was receiving treatment in hospital.

The incident occurred after the 89-year-old woman, Annette Shippam, blacked out and sustained injuries when her scooter collided with a car in Trull Road.

Her husband, Alfred, witnessed the accident and described it as a "dreadful shock."

Mrs Shippam was left with abrasions on her arms and legs, facial bruising, and a black eye.

A scan revealed blood on her brain, requiring her to spend the weekend in Musgrove Park Hospital.

Mrs Shippam said: "I felt the hit and next thing I remember is lying in the road.

"I blacked out for a couple of minutes and was quite shaken.

"There were a lot of very kind people who gave me a back rest and blankets."

PC Gary Pethick was on his way to deal with a shoplifting report when he was alerted to the accident.

After stopping traffic and calling an ambulance, along with a good Samaritan, he rode the scooters home.

He said: "It's the second or third time I've ridden a mobility scooter home for someone and I've also done an electric bike."