Three people have been injured in Leicester after a car mounted the kerb and sent pedestrians flying into the air before driving away and being abandoned nearby.

Eyewitnesses said the car had a smashed windshield and was driving erratically before heading into the victims, one of whom was a teenage boy of about 16.

The incident took place by Humberstone Gate near the Charles Street junction in Leicester City Centre at around 5pm on Tuesday (1 November). Witness Dr Beejay Bhatt told The Sun the car appeared to aim straight at pedestrians, many of whom were waiting for buses home.

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"It was 5pm so there were loads of people there and this car just goes barrelling into the kerb," said Dr Bhatt.

"The driver was driving like they were possessed. The boy got launched literally into the air, 10ft at least. He flew through the air and hit the door. He was lifeless on the floor."

The boy came round and his mother rushed to the scene. He is not thought to have been seriously injured but two other people, a man and a woman, were taken to hospital. The woman is said to have been seriously injured.

The car was found abandoned nearby and no-one has yet been arrested. The area has been cordoned off as an investigation takes place.

Leicestershire Police Chief Inspector Dan Pedley said: "There is considerable police activity in the area and roads are closed as a result of this incident which will understandably cause concern among residents and inconvenience to motorists. The investigation is in the early stages and officers are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding this incident."

Chief Inspector Pedley continued: "The car failed to stop at the scene and a vehicle has since been found abandoned nearby. There were a lot of people in the area at the time of the incident who will have seen what happened and I would urge anyone with information to call 101 [quoting incident 531]."