Speed reductions and a new crossing are amongst the suggestions from a concerned father whose child was hit by a car outside his school.

Eleven-year-old Kai was on his third day at East Bergholt High School when he was struck by a vehicle on the B1070 Heath Road. 

It is the latest incident which has seen a child hit outside the school, prompting calls for change from Kai's dad Kieran Spooner and East Bergholt Parish Council.

"We really need the highways to actually listen," said Mr Spooner. 

Kai had only just started at East Bergholt High SchoolKai had only just started at East Bergholt High School (Image: Contributed)

"They have been trying for years and years for a new crossing. They are not being not being heard."

Kai required hospital treatment following the collision, but according to Mr Spooner is now "doing absolutely fine". 

A new crossing has been installed opposite the new housing development at the edge of the village, but this will not serve children accessing the school from the village. 

People in the village believe an additional crossing should be installed near to the school.

Headteacher Dan Woodcock said: "We are working with the parish council to try and improve the safety of students arriving and leaving the school site. This includes the introduction of a 20mph speed limit and additional traffic calming measures.

Kai in hospital after the crashKai in hospital after the crash (Image: Contributed)

"We have now had three accidents involving students being hit by cars over the past four or five years. 

"Although their injuries have luckily been only minor, we are concerned that it is only a matter of time before someone is more seriously injured."

Nigel Roberts, vice-chairman of the parish council, said: "We are concerned about the road safety issues in East Bergholt and have been for a number of years.

"Our primary aim is to slow the traffic down. What we want to do is a 20mph speed limit on the B1070 and other roads in East Bergholt. 

Mr Roberts added that the parish council hopes Suffolk Highways can start taking local concerns "more seriously". 

A spokesperson for Suffolk Highways said: "There are ways to request speed limit reductions and traffic calming measures. These involve an assessment against certain criteria and the support of the local county councillor and parish council. We encourage people interested in changes to contact their councillor in the first instance.

“A new pedestrian crossing and footpath improvements are currently being installed in the area which are linked to on-going developments in East Bergholt. These involve resurfacing, new streetlights, tactile paving, a zebra crossing and road markings. These all help to improve road safety.”