A FARNHAM man has died after he was hit by a lorry near the site of Britain’s biggest annual Islamic gathering in East Worldham last Friday.

The 35-year-old pedestrian was initially taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries on July 21 following the collision with a Scania HGV on Green Street, the stretch of the B3004 between Worldham Hill and Kingsley, near Bordon, at 3.05pm.

Hampshire Police has today confirmed the man, who has not yet been formally named, died on Tuesday (July 25) in hospital. His next-of-kin are currently being supported by specialist officers.

The driver of the HGV, a 38-year-old man from Tamworth, who had been arrested in connection with this incident was released but remains under investigation.

Investigations into the collision are continuing and anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Sgt Mark Furse, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, on 101, quoting 44170280821.

The fatality has overshadowed the preparations for this weekend’s Jalsa Salana convention, with 35,000 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community set to gather in a tented village at Hadeeqatul Mahdi, formerly Oaklands Farm, from July 28 to 30.

Speaking of the sadness that had shaken the community, Dr Basharat Nazir, spokesman for the

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, confirmed that the HGV driver was approaching Oaklands Farm when the incident occurred.

In a statement he said: “It was a very sad tragic road traffic accident that occurred on the main road B3004. He was one of our members, who was driving and approaching Oaklands Farm (Hadeeqatul Mahdi). The incident was not directly connected with the Jalsa Salana; the pedestrian was a road user at the time on the B3004 who encountered this catastrophe.

“Our prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends.”

*Motorists using the A31, A325 and B3004 Alton to Kingsley roads this weekend should expect to experience delays, especially at the beginning and end of the day, for the duration of the festival.

Peak times are expected to be during arrival times: from 10am to 2pm on Friday and 9am to 11am on Saturday and Sunday, and departures from 6pm, but these will be staggered.

As in previous years the majority of car parking will be at Country Market in Kingsley, with bus shuttles operating to and from the convention site. Bus shuttles will also operate from Alton train station.

On-site parking will be mainly for disabled visitors and workers, and on-site security will include tight management of vehicles entering and leaving the site, to keep traffic build up on the roads to a minimum.

There is a twitter account @JalsaUK operating for additional information and public feedback. Also a website at http://jalsauk.org/ and a telephone hotline 01420 87222.