A BOY was airlifted to hospital after being knocked over by a minibus yesterday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to reports that a youngster had been involved in a collision at Rushyford, near Ferryhill, at around 4.20pm yesterday.

It was initially feared that the boy, thought to be around five-years-old, had sustained serious head injuries.

He was treated at the scene by the North East Ambulance Service and a doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, which was called to assist, before being airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, where he remains today.

He is said to have sustained a broken arm and other cuts and bruises but not serious head injuries and is in a stable condition.

The 77-year-old man who was driving the Mercedes minibus was uninjured.

The road was closed until 6.30pm whilst accident investigators examined the scene.