A village community is calling for urgent road safety changes after a young boy was knocked down by a car.

The campaign is being led by Naomi Spirit-Hawthorne, whose eight-year-old son Leon was run over at a junction in Skelmorlie.

Residents are now demanding changes to the accident blackspot at Sandybrae Road and ‘The Lane’ before someone else is hurt.

Naomi said: “Leon was on his bike cycling to cubs with his big sister when he came out at the junction and was struck by a car. He was knocked over the bonnet and tossed on to the road.  

“A trip to A&E confirmed he had only sustained minor injuries as thankfully the motorist was driving within the speed limit - but I dread to think what might have happened if he was going faster.

“This highlights a serious problem in Skelmorlie, where many roads have blind corners and often no pavements, so even people abiding by the rules are at risk.

“Unless there are changes this could easily happy again - and perhaps the next child wouldn’t be as lucky as my son.”

Naomi says the junction in question is a busy walkway for residents and that locals feel unsafe due to a lack of a pavement and the positioning of the corner.

She explained: “The lane is a thoroughfare for people going to the doctor’s surgery, scout hall, community centre, library, tennis club and school.  

“The lack of proper pavements and poor visibility for drivers and pedestrians is a lethal combination.

“Many cars also travel over the speed limit too.”

Naomi says locals are now determined to force change in the village to make it safer to walk, cycle and drive.

She said: “There is wide support locally among Skelmorlie residents for traffic calming measures to be introduced village-wide.  

“This has been taken to the council several times before, but so far have 
been rebuffed.  

“We want the local authority to make all blind corners give ways from both sides to ensure traffic has to stop and check before moving on.

“We also want speed bumps installed at key locations across the village, including The Lane, to slow traffic down.

“There simply shouldn’t need to be a fatality before these issues are addressed.

"I still feel sick when I remember getting the call and the person saying to me: “I’m with your little boy, he has been knocked down”.

“I don’t want another mum or dad to experience that.”

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch says he has asked council officials to investigate potential changes.

He said: “These issues in Skelmorlie are historical and have been discussed at many meetings over the years with police.

“For me it is more about driver behaviour. Even though the speed limit is 30mph, drivers should be travelling at no more than 20mph through the village and proceeding with caution.

“I have asked the roads inspector from North Ayrshire Council to go out and have a look at signs, markings and visibility and he will put forward suggestions if they are deemed necessary.”

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “We were very sorry to hear of this incident and wish the young boy a quick recovery.

“While there is no indication that speed was a factor in this unfortunate incident, we will discuss this matter with Police Scotland colleagues to consider whether any traffic management measures are required.”