PRIMARY school children were left in tears after a fellow pupil was involved in an accident outside the school gates yesterday.

A Year-4 boy, believed to be about nine years old, was knocked down by a car as he crossed Bartholomew Road outside Church Cowley St James School at 3.20pm.

Witness Rachelle Newbold said: "His mum waved to him from across the road to let him know where she was.

"He did not walk down to the crossing lady, he just ran straight out. He had a graze on his cheek, but he was not knocked unconscious."

Mrs Newbold's daughter Olivia, nine, who is in the boy's class, said: "He loves playing football. He is an Arsenal fan, like me.

"Everyone started crying and we all had to go back into the hall with the Year-3 teacher."

Mrs Newbold said she lent the boy's mother her phone to call an ambulance while other mothers directed traffic around the boy, who was lying in the middle of the road.

The boy was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington with minor injuries.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said no one had been arrested in connection with the incident.