An elderly woman’s arm was ripped off after it got trapped in the electric window of a parked car, police said.

The 78-year-old was leaning into the car outside a house in Cornwall when it lurched forward, trapping her arm.

She was airlifted from Hayle to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth on Saturday, where it was hoped surgeons would be able to reattach the arm, cut off above the elbow.

Police said she was leaning into the car to wind up the electric windows. She turned on the ignition to get power, but the car was in gear and lurched forward, trapping her hand or arm.

Police said the pensioner had suffered life-changing injuries.

However, medics hoped she would make a good recovery.