VETERAN East Lancashire Labour peer Lord Thomas Taylor of Blackburn is recovering in hospital after being seriously injured crossing a road.

The 87-year-old former council leader was hurt in a collision with a van just after 6pm yesterday outside the House of Lords on his mobility scooter.

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He was taken to a south London hospital where his condition was described as 'stable'.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident on Millbank, close to the junction with Great College Road.

Lord Taylor became a member of Blackburn Town Council in 1954 and was its Leader from 1972to 1976.

He became a businessman after being made a life peer in 1978.

Phil Riley, deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "We are all obviously very concerned for Lord Taylor.

"He is a great friend of Blackburn and we hope he recovers quickly from this incdident.

"Our thoughts and good wishes are with him at this time."

There have been no arrests and the driver stopped at the scene.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision in Westminster.

"Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at approximately 18:05 hours on Wednesday November 16 to reports of a van in collision with a man on a mobility scooter on Millbank, close to the junction with Great College Road, SW1.

"Officers attended and the man, aged in his late 80s, was taken to a south London hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

"His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

"The driver stopped at the scene.

"Detectives from the Roads and Transport Policing Command are investigating and would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact the witness appeal line on 020 8543 5157.

"There have been no arrests and enquiries continue."