A YOUNG boy has been badly hurt in a road accident at Marsden – the second child to be hurt on the same stretch of road in the last seven weeks.

The 10-year-old was crossing the main Manchester Road close to Peel Street when he was in an accident with a motorcyclist at 4pm yesterday.

And it led to immediate calls for more safety measures.

On February 6 an eight-year-old boy was badly hurt after he was in an accident with a car on a zebra crossing on Manchester Road outside Marsden Junior School at 3.20pm.

A 73-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision but police have confirmed that no further action will be taken against him.

After yesterday’s accident the road was closed off by police while paramedics tended to the stricken youngster, who remained conscious throughout.

He had suffered serious head and leg injuries, including a suspected fractured femur and broken pelvis.

Retained firefighters Gavin Shaw, John Arey, Michael Dobbin and Neil Sutcliffe – who is also a paramedic – were close by at Marsden Fire Station and rushed to help and gave him vital first aid before ambulance crews arrived.

The decision was taken to draft in a helicopter to fly him directly to Leeds General Infirmary for specialist treatment.

The South Yorkshire Air Ambulance swooped low over the village and landed on land behind the old Marsden Fire Station and Marsden Liberal Club.