AN eight-year-old girl is in a serious condition in hospital after she and a friend were knocked down by a car.

The girl and a 10-year-old were hit by a blue Honda Civic in Wigan Road, Hunger Hill at about 11am on Thursday. 

Both were airlifted to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Schoolgirl, 8, remains in critical condition following accident in Wigan Road, Hunger Hill

The younger of the two suffered serious head injuries. She was unconscious while paramedics treated her at the scene, police said.

The older girl suffered fractures but was conscious and her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. 

The driver stopped at the scene and was earlier speaking with police. Officers said there are no indications at this stage that a criminal offence had been committed, but an investigation is ongoing. 

The girls were trying to cross the main road with two other friends when the crash happened, The Bolton News understands. 

Residents brought pillows and blankets out to make the children comfortable while emergency services were en route.

Two air ambulances landed in Wigan Road and a nearby field, and each conveyed one of the children to hospital. 

Sgt Mark Thomas, from the Serious Collision and Investigations Unit, is leading the investigation.

He said: "Families have been told and are with both children.

"We were very concerned for the younger of the girls 

"The road will remain closed for much of the day and we are aware that this will cause disruption but we feel this is justified."

Catherine Raper, who lives next to the scene, spoke with the older girl after fetching some blankets from inside.

She said: "She was asking for her mummy and I said they are going to get her now.

"I was worried about the other little girl because she wasn't moving.

"The older one kept lifting her head up and saying she wanted her mum.

"I said to her 'don't worry, you will be alright'.

"She said she did not know what had happened, but she remembered her address and told someone so they could fetch her mum.

"I just hope they are both ok."

Sarah Fogg, who lives yards from the scene, sprinted off to try and find one of the girl's parents, and then looked after the two friends who were uninjured. 

She said: "They were both really shaken. I don't think they could believe what had happened.

"It is a dangerous road to cross there. It always has been, because the motorway roundabout is so close.

"It is not nice to come out and see something like that."

Doreen Asante moved into her house in Wigan Road only four months ago, and is a mother to two children, aged four and six.

She said: "It is just so terrible. I am in shock really.

"You can't imagine how you would be feeling if something like that happened to your children.

"It is a 40mph zone and a very busy street. It makes me worried about my kids."

Emma Cornwell, another local resident, said: "It gives me goose pimples thinking about it. Those poor girls. 

"This road needs dropping to a 30 zone and having cameras installed.

"You hear cars all the time, flying by at very high speed."

The road was closed for four hours, before reopening at about 4pm.