BROMSGROVE children were hit by vehicles more than a dozen times in four years, analysis of official figures has revealed.

Campaigners say more should be done to educate youngsters about road safety after thousands of child pedestrians across Great Britain were hurt or killed in incidents between 2017 and 2020.

Analysis of Department for Transport figures by insurance company Churchill reveals that during that period, 15 children were hit by a vehicle in Bromsgrove.

Of them, three were seriously injured.

Primary school aged pupils made up 19 per cent of all 77 adult and child pedestrian casualties recorded by the DfT in 2017-20.

Churchill's analysis found no incidents in Bromsgrove involving a casualty aged between four and 11 happened in a 20mph zone, while none were within 500 metres of a school.

The figures also show that five children were hit during school 'rush hours', either between 7.30am and 8.30am or between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Kirsty Hoad, from Churchill, said the figures highlighted the importance of teaching road safety to children as early as possible.

She added: "With more than half of primary school children walking or cycling to school, this is one obvious area where children will need to know how to stay safe.

"We encourage everyone to take an active role in educating young children in their lives about road safety."

She advised motorists to take extra care near schools and said speed restrictions were in place to protect children and should be observed at all times.

Rod Dennis from the RAC called for more 20mph zones to be introduced around schools, saying physical traffic calming measures also played a part in making streets safer.

Mr Dennis added: "There is also a clear onus on drivers who use the car to drop off or pick up their children to think about their driving."

He said parents could send a positive message to others by walking and cycling to school or parking away from the school gates.