COUNCILLORS have called for action in Padiham after an eight-year-old girl was hurt in an accident in Green Lane.

The girl was rushed to Burnley General Hospital after she was hit by a car just after 3pm yesterday.

The accident occurred just under a railway bridge, near the Brencliffe factory.

Today, tyre marks could still be seen on the road and kerbstones, which investigators had highlighted by spraying yellow paint.

Hapton with Park councillor, Peter McCann, said: "Nobody has ever come to me with a specific concern about this in Green Lane but traffic speeds are generally a problem across Padiham and Hapton.

"It is difficult to get traffic calming and it always seems that someone has to die before something is done."

Police said the girl, from Humberside, was in Padiham visiting relatives and it is believed she ran out in front of the car, a green Hyundai.

She suffered a grazed back and a bump to the head and was not believed to be in a serious condition.

There is no suggestion the car was speeding on the road, which is governed by a 30mph limit.

Brencliffe worker, Paul Smith, said: "The police and paramedics came along and the road was closed for two hours.

"Some people said the little girl just ran out onto the road. I don't think the car was going very fast."

Local adults and children did not know who the girl was and youngsters were playing on the street again last night.

Resident John Conland, of St Anne's Terrace, Green Lane, said: "Some children play 'dare' with each other on the road, running across, or crossing on skateboards or bikes. And some drivers go too fast. Some motorists come down like bats out of hell.

He added: "They speed down and it's ridiculous. There should be speed humps on the road."