TEACHERS and parents have spoken of their shock after a five-year-old girl was seriously hurt when she toppled into the path of a bus.

The youngster suffered life-threatening head injuries when she fell from her scooter in front of the single-decker.

Last night she was still fighting for her life at Southampton General Hospital.

The girl, a pupil at Knightwood Primary School in Chandler’s Ford, was with her mum when the incident happened in Knightwood Road after school on Thursday.

The accident has rocked staff and parents at the school.

Head teacher, Paul Haydon, said: “Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. The whole school are hoping she makes a recovery following this tragic incident.”

Yesterday parents collecting their children at home-time told of their shock at the accident.

One mum, who did not want to be named, said: “When I heard, tears came to my eyes because I have got a four-year-old who has just started at the school.

“Just the thought of somebody having been hit by a bus is enough to turn your stomach. It is truly shocking.”

Another added: “We have heard what happened. I haven’t been told anything from the school about it yet. Obviously your thoughts would be with the family at this time.”

Police say the child, who has not been named, fell from her scooter on to the road colliding with a single-decker bus which was travelling north west on the route, which has a speed limit of 30 mph.

The 50-year-old bus driver, who lives in Hedge End, was not injured.

Officers stayed at the scene for more than an hour while an ambulance and rapid response vehicle attended to the child.

Police have launched a fresh appeal for witnesses to the incident, which happened at around 3.20pm.

Anyone with information should contact Acting Sergeant David Dyer at Totton Roads Policing Unit, quoting Operation Tarlatan, on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.