A PORTLAND schoolgirl was told she could have lost her leg after she was hit by a car at an accident blackspot on the island.

Relatives of 10-year-old Lacey-Marie Murphy-Lewis have learned that she is the third child to be injured on Weston Road this year.

She is currently in Salisbury District Hospital at Oddstock, where she has had four operations in six days after her breaking her leg in two places.

Lacey's grandmother Gaye Robinson said: "She had a nine-hour operation on Wednesday to have her lower leg reconstructed as all the tissue had been destroyed. They are taking skin, muscle and blood vessels from other parts of the body.

"She's going to be in intensive care for the next two days."

Mother Samantha Robinson said: "She's in a pretty bad shape. My husband's been up to the site and it's quite clear from the road markings she travelled quite a distance being dragged underneath the car.

"She's obviously worried about the future but she's such a brave little thing. She's going to be in hospital for a few weeks and then she's going to need physiotherapy to rebuild the muscle."

Anna Sanders is engaged to Lacey's father and spoke to the St George's Primary School pupil before her operation.

She said: "She was obviously very scared but she is coping quite well considering what has happened.

"There was an off-duty paramedic there and he said she could have lost her leg if the car hadn't been rolled backwards off her."

Gaye Robinson found out that her colleague Jenny Cawley's granddaughter had also been knocked down in May this year at almost the exact same spot as Lacey.

She suffered similar injuries, but not as serious as Lacey's, and the whole family is now hoping to highlight the dangers of the area.

Lacey's grandmother said: "We just want people to watch out for their kids and if there is a blackspot issue we want it highlighted.

"We also found out yesterday that the blood at the accident hadn't been cleared away and it was quite upsetting for all her friends walking past on the way to school."

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's spokesman for transport and infrastructure Christine James said: "Weston Road is not currently considered a blackspot - although there have been a number of accidents there over the past 10 years, there have not been more than average for this type of road.

"However, as with all parts of the borough, we will continue to monitor the situation."