A PEDESTRIAN died in a crash in Southend, becoming the county's first fatal road accident victim this year.

Barrie Neville, 59, of Christchurch Road, Southend, was pronounced dead at Southend Hospital, where he was taken following the crash in Bournemouth Park Road.

Mr Neville was on foot when he was hit by a red Volkswagen Passat, near the junction with Boscombe Road, at about 7.20pm on Tuesday.

The Passat was travelling south, towards Southchurch Road. The car's driver, a 27-year-old Southend man, was arrested at the scene and has been released on police bail until March 10.

Police would like to speak to the driver of a dark coloured Peugeot car, which may have been blue, which was travelling in the opposite direction to the Passat at the time of the accident. Anyone who saw the crash should call PC Steve Deats at the Rayleigh road policing unit on 01268 775533.