Neighbours today described how distraught relatives ran to the scene of a crash which left a nine-year-old cyclist fighting for his life.

The boy was today in intensive care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital after suffering suffered serious head and leg injuries when he was knocked from his bike by a car.

Police today appealed for witnesses of the accident that happened at the junction of Dobbins Oak Road and Queensway in Wollescote, near Stourbridge.

The boy, who lives in Murcroft Road nearby, was involved in a collision with a Renault Megane at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

He was airlifted to hospital by the Midland Air Ambulance after being treated at the scene by paramedics. Residents described the aftermath of the crash and seeing the youngster lying unconscious in the road.

Irene Walters, aged 74, said: “I heard a loud bang and rushed to my front window to see what had happened.

“There was a little lad lying there in the road, and a car had come to a stop in front of him. His bike was on the pavement.

“Some other drivers had already got out of their cars to help but it didn’t look good for the poor lad.

“He wasn’t moving and I started to think the worst.” Doreen Chiles, 52, said she saw the boy’s family run from their home around the corner minutes after the crash happened.

She added: “There was a couple of young children and a woman, they obviously looked distraught.

“Everyone was panicking and when the air ambulance arrived and landed on the field over the road, we knew it was serious.”

Safety

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “We see a lot of children riding their bikes around here and I do worry for their safety.

“It’s a busy road and all sorts of accidents can happen, It’s tragic.” The driver of the car was not injured. Queensway was shut for two hours while the crash was investigated and the scene was cleared.

Paint markings laid out by police on the road of where the car and the boy were found after the crash happened were still visible today.

The boy was strapped to a spinal board before being taken to the hospital, which had been alerted to get ready for his arrival.

He today remained in a critical but stable condition, said West Midlands Police spokesman David Hodgetts.

He added officers were calling for any witnesses to the crash to come forward with information while the investigation continues. Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them on 0345 113 5000.