A SCHOOLBOY was hit by a car in a busy main road where his school have been calling for a crossing.

The youngster was involved in a collision with an Isuzu Trooper, in Highfield Road, Farnworth — close to St James' CE High School where he is a pupil.

The incident happened at about 3.20pm this afternoon, November 23.

It is understood that the youngster, whose age has not been confirmed, stepped out from behind a parked van.

He was seen being stretchered into the back of the ambulance, but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The motorist was driving along Highfield Road towards Farnworth when the pupil ran out, witnesses told police at the scene.

The road was blocked off for about an hour while emergency services dealt with the incident.

On-street parking is common around the school, and the area becomes particularly at the end of the school day, said school bosses.

Tania Lewyckyj, headteacher at St James CE High School, said the school had asked for help with road safety.

She said: "Lucas Road and Highfield Road are both extremely busy at the end of school and we have asked the council to support us with crossings and we have yet to have an answer.

"But we have being doing that for quite some time."

Ms Lewyckyj added that the school's thoughts were with their pupil and also the motorist involved in the collision, understood to be a 52-year-old woman.

She said: "We are praying for him and that he gets well soon and also praying for the driver who went through that experience.

"We hope that both of them recover recover from the shock of the accident soon."

Joan Partington, 77, who lives in Highfield Road, close to where the incident happened, said: "This road is terrible, I'm surprised it's the only accident to have happened. Kids are running back and forward, it's like a race track, this lady wasn't speeding, but the majority of the time it's like Le Mans."

Witnesses told police at the scene the driver had been travelling under the speed limit.