A 96-year-old woman with "a heart of gold" has died after being hit by a lorry in a busy Malvern road.

Eileen Gregory, of Redland Road, Malvern, was hit by a tipper truck carrying soil while she was out shopping in Worcester Road, Malvern Link, on Thursday morning.

She was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, where it became clear that her injuries were more serious than first feared.

Her family say she suffered a bleed on the brain and passed away peacefully in her hospital bed at about midnight.

They say Mrs Gregory was a fun-loving woman who loved her family and had a "heart of gold"

Her grandson, Jonathon Gregory, aged 18, told the Worcester News the accident has come as a "horrible shock" to the entire family.

"It is just unreal," he said. "She will be greatly missed.

"The whole family is so shocked and saddened by what has happened.

"She was well-known and so well-liked by so many people. We have received a lot of kind messages from people since this happened and we are very grateful for the support."

Mrs Gregory, a widow, still lived independently at home with her cat and her dog and was very active, Mr Gregory said.

"She was still very active and independent and when this (the accident) happened she was on her normal trip to the shops that she would make most days.

"She was a lovely woman. Her family meant the world to her and she loved to cook Sunday lunch for everyone."

Mrs Gregory had lived in Malvern for about 30 years and before that lived nearby, in Hanley Swan.

She is survived by her six children, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the accident, near to Francis of Malvern, at about 10.45am on Thursday.

The Midlands Air Ambulance helicopter landed nearby and the road was closed until about 2pm while police carried out investigations.

West Mercia Police is now appealing for witnesses to the incident.

PC Nick Gimbert said: "We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed what happened.

"Our thoughts are with Eileen's family, and we ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting incident number 194s of Thursday 28 July.