AN eight-year-old boy was taken to hospital in a serious condition after he was hit by a car.

Emergency services were called to Rothesay Road, Blackburn, near the junction of Shadsworth Road, at around 5pm on Thursday.

His parents were said to be in tears when the crews arrived at around 5.30pm.

The youngster was taken to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with head injuries where he remains in a serious but stable condition. No one has been arrested and it is thought the driver stopped at the scene.

A 46-year-old man, who has known the family for more than 10 years, said: “I didn’t see the incident but saw an ambulance parked outside the house. I was really concerned and thought something bad had happened.

“The parents were really upset, as was the paramedic who attended. My daughter goes to the same school with their son so I know them quite well and it’s really sad.”

Becky Rodowicz, who runs Peekaboo Day Care, on Rothesay Road, said: “We wish the young boy a speedy recovery and hope he pulls through.”

Ward councillor for Blackburn East, Jim Shorrock, said his thoughts were with the young boy and his family and voiced his concerns about road safety in the area.

He said: “Rothesay Road has always been a rat run through Shadsworth and I have long had serious concerns about it.

“We see the same issues being reported, speeding, despite the fact it is a 20mph road. There is also a lot of trouble with illegal motorbikes tearing up and down the road. It is very dangerous and worrying.

“I have been working with the police for a while to highlight these issues and try and get something done about it.”

Cllr Andy Kay, who also represents the area, added: “It is very concerning to hear about this and I am disappointed to hear that it has happened.

“Presumably there will be a safety audit to establish what has happened here. I know there are already traffic calming measures on the road.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We were called at around 4.50pm to reports that a child had been hit by a car. We transported one patient, a male, to the hospital with head injuries in a serious condition.”

A police spokesman said: “We attended to reports that an eight-year-old boy had been hit by a car. No arrests have been made.”