PARENTS are calling for a safer crossing after a boy was struck by a car as he was walking to school.

The nine-year-old had a lucky escape on the ‘dangerous road’ just outside Dorchester Middle School yesterday morning.

He was taken to Dorset County Hospital with minor injuries.

Headmaster Paul Chadwick said: “We were very sorry to hear about one of our pupils being involved in an accident.

“He had a lucky escape and was really fortunate not to have been badly hurt and obviously we’re delighted that he hasn’t sustained anything more serious.

“The lad had a bump on his head but he’s fine now and has gone back home.”

The accident happened at the junction of Maud Road and Coburg Road while the Year Five pupil was walking to school.

Paramedics and the police were called to the scene at around 8.40am after receiving reports that a child had been hit by a car.

Mr Chadwick added: “We work regularly with the Safer Neighbourhood Team and have regular road safety days but something like this highlights the situation.

“I have contacted the police about the circumstances and we will meet as a matter of some urgency and see if we can take any action.

“It’s quite a dangerous road and we want to make sure it’s made safer.”

Parents are calling for a lollipop person or a pedestrian crossing along the road outside the school and say the current layout is confusing.

Parent Heather Cox said: “Many of us parents have long said that the speed bump idea was confusing not only to the drivers over who has right of way but the children trying to cross to get to school. The answer is a lollypop person or a pedestrian crossing opposite the school and one up at the Thomas Hardy school end.

“I guess it will take a fatality before the powers that be listen to the parents’ common sense.”

Helen Sargent, who has an 11-year-old daughter in Year Six, said: “The bumps are misleading and all the children come out here and there’s no crossing. There’s always cars parked along both sides of the road, the buses come up and down here and all three gates are used by the children. It gets really congested and hectic.”

Jacqueline Coles, whose nine-year-old son is a pupil at the school, said: “I think they should have a few zebra crossing up here because the humps aren’t enough.”