A TEENAGE girl has been airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries after being knocked down by a car on her way to school.

The 13-year-old was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa as she tried to cross a road on the outskirts of Durham City at around 7.50am this morning (TUESDAY).

The accident happened near the Aged Miners’ Homes on Woodland Road, in Bearpark.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "The car was travelling west along Woodland Road when it collided with a 13-year-old girl who was on her way to school and had stepped off the pavement into the road".

Police closed the road to allow the Great North Air Ambulance helicopter to land and the onboard doctor was able to treat the patient at the scene and stabilise her.

She was then taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where her condition was described as "serious".

The driver of the car, a 36-year-old woman from Ushaw Moor, was shocked but unhurt. The road was closed for two hours to allow accident investigators to examine the scene.

Any witnesses to the incident are asked to contact Durham Constabulary’s collision investigation unit on 0191 375 2159.