Boy, 5, rushed to hospital after being hit by car in Hartlepool

The incident took place on Milbank Road in the town around 4.30pm today.

The North East Ambulance Service said the boy had been taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The Great North Air Ambulance have confirmed that he suffered head and facial injuries, but said they are not life threatening.

He is in a stable condition.

Cleveland Police were called to the scene and the road was closed while the emergency services dealt with the incident. The road has since reopened.

A spokesman from the North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called to a collision involving a car and a five-year-old boy at 4.37pm.

"We sent a paramedic ambulance and had support from the air ambulance support unit.

"The boy was taken to James Cook Hospital."

A Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) spokesman said: "We were called to assist the North East Ambulance Service with a child who had reportedly been knocked over by a car.

"He was treated on scene by the crew before being transported by land ambulance accompanied by the GNAAS team."

Police are yet to release any further details.

An eyewitness said she saw the boy washing a car with some friends at the time.

She said: "I heard a bang and saw that the boy had been hit by a car.

"The motorist stopped at the scene.

"I saw the air ambulance land at Dyke House and police closed the road off for a while.

"The boy was conscious and he was taken to hospital by an ambulance.

"We are a close community so it has been a shock.

"We hope he is going to be OK."