Crash investigators have issued an appeal for information after a woman died after she was struck by a bus yesterday.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the Overcliffe, Gravesend, opposite Iceland supermarket, at 3.30pm after reports a pedestrian had been hit by a bus.

The air ambulance landed nearby in the car park of Wickes DIY store but the woman, in her 40s, died at the scene.

Her next of kin have been told.

The woman was thought to have been crossing the road from north to south, police said.

Floral tributes have since been left by mourners at the scene.

Kerri Holland, 27, an administrator from Gordon Road in Northfleet, was on the bus when it happened.

She said: “It just all happened so fast. We had just pulled away from the bus stop and from nowhere she came out.

“We heard the smash and everyone just started screaming.

“I didn’t see her walk out into the road. I was looking straight ahead.

“The bus driver remained so calm, but I could see the shock on his face. He got out and had a look and said ‘I need to get you all off the bus, please try to avoid looking at the accident’.

“The bus was quite full. There weren’t a lot of kids on it though.

“I think everyone was in complete shock. I saw one lady who was just sobbing.

“It was quite scary. Something like that can happen so quickly. I’m concerned for the bus driver, it must be horrible for him.”

According to Kerri, the bus could not have been going any quicker than 20mph as it had just pulled out of the bus stop.

Samuel Scutts, a video editor from Hoo, was working when he saw the helicopter land nearby.

He said: “All we can see is the front of the bus which has a smash in the front of it.

“We saw the air ambulance crew running up the road to the incident.”

The Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit is looking into the cause.

They are hoping to speak to anyone who saw the incident, or who has any information they think might be relevant.

In particular, officers would like to speak to two women who were standing outside a supermarket at the junction with Stuart Road, as they may have important information.

if you can help, contact 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting reference 168/14.