A NINE-year-old boy suffered multiple injuries after being hit by a white Land Rover Discovery in Wynyard.

The boy was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital after being placed in a medically-induced coma following the incident on The Wynd, in Wynyard, near Stockton, just before 7pm last night, Monday.

A 41-year-old man was arrested by police at the scene for driving offences and has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The boy was treated by medics from the Great North Air Ambulance before being taken to hospital by helicopter, arriving in a critical condition.

Police said he was suffering from head injuries, a fractured wrist and hip, and cuts to the face which require stitches, and is still in hospital recovering, although they are not believed to be life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contact PC Craig Wren from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 152611.