PASSERS-by ignored an injured pensioner's calls for help after he fell down a manhole in a busy shoppers' car park and lay there trapped for 45 minutes.

Clive Collins, 65, was trying to get into the boot of his car in Hawkwood Road car park in Boscombe at noon on Monday when he stood on the manhole cover, which tipped up, catapulting him into the five-foot deep hole.

"I fell in and was in there for three-quarters of an hour," he said. "In the time I was in there, 30 people must have walked past me not wanting to get involved."

Mr Collins said one leg, one arm, his shoulders and his head were sticking out.

Initially, he passed out, but when he came to, he tried to get the shoppers' attention.

"I was shouting and people were walking by, looking straight ahead," he said.

"I think it was fear, they just didn't want to make eye contact. They didn't want to get involved.

"One woman parked next to me and put the hood up on her car. I said: Can you call an ambulance or something?' and she completely ignored me.

"I waved at a man and he just waved back and drove on. It's quite frightening to thing that people took that attitude."

Mr Collins managed to wiggle himself into an angle where he could reach the mobile phone in his pocket and call 999. He was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where he was given 47 stitches and treatment for two broken ribs, a chipped tooth and groin strain.

Mr Collins is worried that the manhole has still not been fixed. Police had placed traffic cones on top as a warning.

Bournemouth council spokeswoman Carly Earnshaw said: "We're sorry to hear of the incident that happened to Mr Collins. A full investigation is being carried out as to how this happened and if any vandalism of the manhole has taken place."

She confirmed the manhole had been coned off and that engineers would be along to fix it shortly.