A LUCKY-to-be-alive youngster escaped serious injury after he was involved in a hit and run accident as he walked to school.

David Jackson, 10, left his Warwick Road home on the Hag Fold estate and was on his way to nearby Meadowbank Primary School at 8.55am on Monday morning when he was knocked off his feet by a speeding car.

Nursing his bruises after being allowed home after a thorough check over at the Royal Bolton Hospital, David told the Journal: "I was just crossing the road and the car came on the wrong side of the road and hit me. I had to limp round to my nan's. I don't like the man because he drove away."

On the ground

David said was three-quarters of the way across Formby Avenue when a white Renault Laguna turned left from Devonshire Road without indicating. David was struck on the right leg by the vehicle, which failed to stop, leaving the youngster on the ground.

Fortunately he was able to limp to his grandmother's house in Chaucer Grove, where she found him crying on her doorstep.

David's mum, Karen, said: "When my mum found him he was hysterical and very shocked, which really upset her. She rang the police who sent an ambulance to take him to hospital."

David underwent x-rays at the Royal Bolton Hospital and was allowed home after being treated for a badly bruised right leg and groin and advised to rest.

Karen said: "I know accidents happen, but what annoys me is that the driver didn't stop -- there's no need for that. For all he knew David could have been lying on the ground dead, the least he could have done is stopped to check."

David was able to identify the car as a Renault Laguna -- the same as his grandmother's -- he was also able to describe the driver as a white male in his 30s with dark hair, who was wearing a black jacket.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Leigh Traffic Police on 0161 856 7273.