AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl was struck by a car while walking home from school on a busy Glasgow road that until recently had a lollipop lady.

The accident happened in Gallowgate at the spot where the crossing patrol was axed by council bosses after 22 years.

Parents repeatedly warned the situation was an accident waiting to happen.

And on Tuesday the girl, a P4 pupil at St Anne's Primary, was hit while using the once-manned pedestrian crossing at around 3.25pm.

She was taken to Yorkhill Hospital For Sick Children and kept in overnight for observation after being treated for minor injuries.

Police have charged the driver in the incident.

Parents of children who walk to St Anne's say the pupils must cross two busy roads where lollipop patrols were removed, at Gallowgate and David Street.

Families say they have been warning the children are at risk since the patrols were removed in September.

Glasgow City Council insists both roads have pedestrian crossings and a part-time flashing 20mph speed zone, but worried families are demanding the lollipop patrols are re-instated following the accident.

Mel Kennedy, 32, who lives in Gallowgate, has two children at St Anne's and saw the accident.

She said: "We have told the school authorities repeatedly that someone is going to get killed on that road if they do not do something.

"It has taken an accident for the council to listen.

"There is a problem with cars jumping the red light at this crossing.

"The lollipop lady who was taken off Gallowgate had been there for 22 years."

Julie Mills, 43, from Dennistoun, has a 10-year-old daughter, Romana, at St Anne's.

She said: "A lot of kids walk to school and we want to see a permanent 20mph zone next to the school and the lollipop patrols brought back."

Alison Thewless, SNP councillor for Calton, said she would be pushing for the patrols to be re-instated.

She said: "Council policy states school crossing patrollers should not be located at signal controlled crossings with a full pedestrian facility, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

"I believe busy roads like the Gallowgate are exceptional, as many children from St Anne's and St Mungo's Secondary cross there daily.

"I am deeply concerned by this accident and urge the council to restore patrollers to busy roads as soon as possible."

Last October, the city council announced plans to axe lollipop patrollers at 80 sites.

A council spokes- woman said: "This is now a police matter.

"However the safety of young children remains a priority for the council. We will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident."

A police spokesman said: "A female has been reported to the procurator fiscal for an offence under the Road Traffic Act."