Claire Hill feared the worst when her eight-year-old son Dylan Turner was knocked down by a car while riding his bike outside the family home.

Although Dylan escaped with a broken leg, Claire says the youngster's ordeal was "an accident waiting to happen" and a child could be killed due to speeding cars in the street.

The 29-year-old wants speed bumps to be installed outside her home in Arkley Crescent, in the West View area of Hartlepool, close to what she describes as a "blind spot" near the gates to the nearby King George V field.

After hearing about the accident, Hartlepool Borough Council has now agreed to survey vehicle speeds in the area before deciding whether to implement any safety measures. Dylan's leg was broken in three places and he suffered grazes to his elbow, collarbone and shoulder.

He has been left in a wheelchair as it is too painful for the youngster to use crutches.

West View Primary School pupil Dylan had been playing at the skate park on the playing field, which backs on to Arkley Crescent, when he decided to ride home for a drink.

He was coming out of the park gates and turning right, towards West View Road, when he collided with a blue Corsa car.

Claire, who works part-time at The Wok Inn restaurant in West View Road and is also mum to four-year-old Derem, said: "He was coming along the street and he collided with the car. The car went over his legs.

"My neighbour said 'it's one of your boys' and I thought the worst. I ran out and was full of fear.

"I saw him screaming in the road. I was relieved it was just his leg. His bike got mangled."

Claire, whose partner is 40-year-old Tony Turner, said Dylan was rushed by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Tees, where he underwent a 45-minute operation.

She added: "I think we should have speed bumps round here, the way some cars fly about and the kids come out of that gate. It's a blind spot.

"This has been an accident waiting to happen. The park is really popular with kids and they come out after riding on a field straight on to a main road. All the mams said it's been waiting to happen.

"West View has always been the same for fast cars. They just fly along and I'm terrified. It's really frightened me."

Claire said the driver of the car did stop and Dylan is expected to stay in his wheelchair for up to eight weeks until he gets a lighter pot on his leg following the accident, which happened around 6pm on Wednesday, June 24.

A council spokesman said: "The fact that a young boy has been knocked over and hurt does concern us and we hope he makes a speedy recovery.

"We will arrange for a survey of vehicle speeds to be carried out in the area before deciding what traffic measures, if any, are appropriate.

"In the meantime we would be happy to discuss Miss Hill's concerns with her."