A 12-YEAR-OLD girl is seriously ill in hospital after she suffered head injuries in a collision with a car.

The Year Seven Canon Slade School pupil, named locally as Joanna Yates, was hurt when she was struck by a car close to Broadoak Garden Centre in Worsley Road, Worsley, at 7.50am yesterday, on her way to catch a school bus. She underwent surgery at Manchester Royal Infirmary yesterday afternoon.

Anita Jackson, assistant headteacher at Canon Slade School, said: “I can confirm that a Year Seven pupil was involved in an accident on Friday morning. She is currently undergoing treatment in hospital and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this time.”

Joanna, believed to be from Monton, Eccles, was hit by a purple Ford KA being driven by a woman.

No arrests have been made.

A doctor, who was passing the scene of the crash yesterday morning, treated the girl until paramedics arrived.

A North West Ambulance Service spokes man said: “We received a call at 7.47am following reports that a 12-yearold female had been hit by a car “She was conscious and breathing but had injuries. She had a head injury and a possible fracture to her left arm.

“There was a doctor on scene who was looking after her.

“She was fully alert and was taken to Salford Royal Hospital.

The driver was not treated for any injuries.”

Joanna was later transferred to MRI, where she was operated on.

Following the accident, police closed the road while forensic specialists exmained the scene.

A police spokesman said: “The girl was taken to hospital where she is being treated for a serious head injury.

“Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the collision are ongoing.”

Joanna’s dance teacher Joanne Farnell, from Miss Joanne Farnell School of Dancing, in Monton, said: “I felt sick when I heard what happened.

“She has been coming to classes every Saturday since she was three.

“Not everybody will know so we will be saying a few words today and we will send her a card and hope she is back soon. Joanna has a lovely singing voice as well as being a good dancer and sang in a show called Once Upon a Dance in June. She has just sat her grade two ballet exam.”

As The Bolton News went to press, Joanna remained in a serious condition in hospital and had a bleed on her brain.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to call the Collision Investigation Unit directly on 0161 856 4742.