A boy was fighting for his life in hospital today after being knocked down by a car in Sandwell. The eight-year-old suffered potentially life-threatening head and leg injuries.

He was taken to Sandwell Hospital after the crash in the Hill Top area last night, near the border between Wednesbury and West Bromwich.

The boy was knocked down by a silver Volkswagen Golf in Hydes Road at its junction with Griffiths Road, just yards from his home at around 6.50pm.

Police said the victim, who has five brothers and sisters, remained in a stable but critical condition in hospital today. He was transferred from Sandwell Hospital to a specialist care unit in Oxford where his father was at his bedside this morning.

It is believed the Harvills Hawthorn Primary School pupil was crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing. The boy’s sister, aged 22, who did not wish to be named, said: “The family would urge anyone who saw anything to come forward and we would be most grateful. He is just a young lad.”

Roads were closed for nearly three hours after the accident.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Zoe Lee said no arrests had been made but police inquiries were continuing. Witnesses are asked to call the road policing unit at West Bromwich police station on 0845 1135000.