A INCIDENT which saw a six-year-old child knocked off his bike by a van has been described as an ‘accident waiting to happen’.

The boy, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with head injuries after being struck by a Post Office vehicle in Dorcan Way just before midday yesterday.

Police closed the road for just over an hour between the Coate and Snodshill roundabouts while they investigated.

Two ambulances and a doctor, who was in the area, attended and treated the boy who had suffered injuries to his head, however they were not thought to be life threatening.

The youngster was with his family at the time of the accident and it is believed they were heading to Coate Water to enjoy the good weather on the first day of the Easter holidays.

PC Scott Hill, of the Serious Collision Team, based in Chippenham, said: “A six-year-old boy, who is local, was out with family when he got hit off his bike.

“He has been taken to Great Western Hospital but his injuries are not thought to be serious.

“There is no indication of excess speed from the driver.”

Okebourne Park resident, Maureen Stables, was out helping the police to clear the road after the incident and said she had been campaigning to make the road safer.

“This was an accident waiting to happen,” she said. “I have lived here and campaigned for a pedestrian crossing to be put up so people can cross safely.

“The road is a nightmare and we get all the traffic coming down it.

She said some of the vehicles using Dorcan Way do drive in excess of the speed limit.

“Liden is the only place in Swindon without a pedestrian crossing and apparently it is because we are too close to the roundabout and there have not been enough accidents.

“I always take that crossing with care and stand back but you see some people stand on the island in the middle and it is only a narrow road.

“It is horrible to think that poor boy was just starting his Easter holidays and he has now got to go to hospital.”

Anybody with information about the accident should contact Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000 or alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.