A BOY was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car.

It is understood the boy, aged three or four, ran out from behind a parked car in Dobson Road, Bolton, and was hit by a blue Toyota Avensis.

The boy suffered a broken leg and a head wound in the accident, which happened at about 7.20pm.

Police blocked off Dobson Road at its junctions with Gilnow Road and Bertrand Road and an accident investigation unit was called.

Four police cars where called to the accident scene and the road remained closed for more than two hours while officers examined the Toyota.

Local resident Nishant Patel, aged 25, said: "The first I heard of it was when the police turned up.

"I didn't hear any noise of braking or see skid marks on the road.

"There are often groups of children playing here at night."

Neighbour Doreen Greenhalgh, aged 83, added: "The first I heard about it was when I saw the ambulance. A lot of cars use this road."

Police said the boy was thought to have a fractured skull.

"The male driver stopped and called police and the ambulance," said a police spokesman.

"He was breathalysed, as is standard practice, and that proved negative. He has been helping officers with their inquiries."

An ambulance spokesman said: "We took the boy to the Royal Bolton Hospital. He had a head wound and a fractured thigh bone.

"He was conscious and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."

No details of the boy's name were released last night but he is believed to come from the Gilnow Road area.