FEARS over the safety of a pedestrian crossing have boiled over after a girl was hit by a car in Royal Wootton Bassett.

The youngster needed hospital treatment after she was struck by a vehicle on the crossing in Station Road.

The incident happened on February 12 at the Old Court pedestrian crossing near to Noremarsh Park and the junior school.

Drivers were diverted and the road was closed while paramedics treated the girl at the scene.

People expressed shock online. Beth Caz wrote: “How many times have people posted about the risk of this happening recently. Hope she is okay.”

Tracy-Lihanne Lane added: “It was just a matter of time before this happened.

"It’s an extremely dangerous crossing. Cars speed to get up the hill and speed going down it. Some cars don’t even slow down or stop at all.”

Andy Simpson, headteacher of Noremarsh Junior School, told the Adver: “We were quickly made aware of the accident by parents driving to collect children from school who stopped at the scene to support the situation.

“I am aware of another serious accident that happened here a few years ago not involving children."

He added: “Local residents have identified this crossing as dangerous with the speed of traffic and visibility coming down the hill.”

The town council has little control over measures to improve the crossing, which falls under the jurisdiction of Wiltshire Council.

Town councillor Steve Bucknell told the Adver: “My personal experience is I have tried to use that crossing on numerous occasions and I’ve never had any problems.

“Zebra crossings are there and all people, including drivers and pedestrians, should know how to use them. If there is an accident on a crossing it’s very very sad, and we should see if there is anything physically wrong with the crossing, but at this stage we don’t know if that’s the case.

“If members of the public have noticed any problems with highways all they have to do is go to the My Wiltshire App and report it.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident on Station Road in Royal Wootton Bassett, and our thoughts are with the girl concerned and her family.

“We take road safety very seriously and will take necessary action where required.

“Anyone with concerns about the location of a crossing should, in the first instance, raise these with their local councillor or the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board.”

The online reporting page can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywiltshire-online-reporting.