POLICE in the Garnock Valley are appealing for information after a woman was found unconscious at the roadside in Beith.

Around 4.35pm on Friday evening, a passing motorist saw the 52-year-old woman who had a serious head injury in Kirk Road, Beith, and stopped to assist. She was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where staff describe her condition as serious but stable.

Sergeant Ian Thornton, Ayrshire Roads Policing, said: “Enquiries into this incident are at a very early stage and so far we have been unable to speak with the injured woman, however, we are continuing to carry out enquiries in order to establish exactly what happened and how her injuries were sustained.

“The injured woman, who is local to the area and described as white, 5 ft 6in height, heavy build, wearing a ¾ length purple jacket and black trousers, had been out walking her dog, a small black and white terrier, just before she was found.

“I would ask anyone who was in the area, in particular drivers with dash cam footage, who may have seen the woman around that time, or indeed, who saw or has any information about what happened to her, to come forward.

“A pantomime was scheduled to take place at nearby Beith Parish Church that evening, and we know that a number of people may have been in the general area around the time the woman was discovered. Maybe they saw her walking her dog before she was found?

“Any information can be passed to Road Policing Officers at Irvine Police Office via 101. Please quote incident number 2819 of Friday 14 December 2018 when calling. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted in confidence on telephone number 0800 555 111.”