THERE are universal calls for safer school crossing measures on a “dangerous” road after a 10-year-old boy was knocked down.

The youngster was crossing Midland Road in Worcester on the way to Stanley Road Primary School when he was hit by a 4x4 at about 8.45am yesterday.

The driver stopped to help and the boy was not badly hurt, but was taken to hospital.

The school usually has a lollipop man at the nearby crossing – on a speed hump – but he has been off sick since Tuesday.

Parents had been sent text messages by the school asking extra care be taken crossing the road.

Headteacher Anne Potter said there was no cover for absent lollipop people and called on the county council to put a system in place where priority school crossings could be covered.

Even though the school has another crossing guard in nearby Wyld’s Lane, it is not allowed to move them from one spot to another without Worcestershire County Council’s permission.

“There ought to be something in place to cover certain crossings,” Miss Potter said.

The incident has highlighted safety on the roads surrounding the school, with parents saying that it is only a matter of time before someone is badly hurt or killed.

Angela Smith, who has a five-year-old child at the school, saw the boy knocked down.

She said: “He managed to hobble over to the kerb and we went to help. This road is lethal, but in a way I am glad my two kids saw what happened so they know how dangerous it is.”

Councillor Allah Ditta has campaigned for a 20mph limit in the area and is expecting the county council to introduce a speed cut in Stanley Road, but not Midland Road where he was told the existing speed hump is enough to slow traffic.

“I’ve been worried about the road for a long time,” he said.

“I get numerous complaints from people about speeding and drivers using it as a rat run between London Road and Newtown Road.

"Fatalities are a possibility – we’ve had a lucky escape this time.”

A county council spokesman said relief lollipop men and women could be trained if “necessary paperwork” was completed.

National guidelines mean any movement of lollipop patrols required “an element of re-training” as every crossing site was different.

They said ultimately “the safety of children travelling to school is down to the parents”.

Councillor Derek Prodger, county council transport chief, said it will “shortly” be installing more than 70 advisory 20mph signs outside schools including Stanley Road.

He said: “Flashing schools signs will be in place in school hours.”