A MOTHER whose daughter was knocked down by a car outside an Ipswich school today warned that a child would be killed if improved road safety measures were not implemented.

A MOTHER whose daughter was knocked down by a car outside an Ipswich school today warned that a child would be killed if improved road safety measures were not implemented.

Ten-year-old Jade-Louise Fox was left with broken teeth, bruises and grazes after the accident in Chantry's Ellenbrook Road, near Gusford Primary School, where she is a year six pupil.

She had rushed across the road to catch a bus when she was struck, close to the junction with Belmont Road.

Her mother, Karen, 34, said Jade-Louise had been lucky to avoid more serious injury.

And she urged authorities to take action to improve the safety for children leaving the school.

“The school is trying to petition the council to get a restriction on traffic around there,” she said.

“Parents park their cars on the grass verges which makes it very difficult to see when a car is coming.

“They have the 20s Plenty scheme in place, but more speed restrictions would help.

“There used to be crossing patrol ladies there but they left and haven't been replaced.”

Gusford headteacher Colin Tapscott said Ellenbrook Road was especially busy after school.

“We are keen to make the road as safe as possible because we have a lot of children coming out of school nearby.

“It's never nice when you have to sit with one of your pupils by the roadside when they have been by a car.

“I understand there was another young person hit on the road about three weeks ago.”

Mrs Fox, of Wherstead Road, said she was in a state of panic when she received the call to say Jade-Louise had been involved in an accident.

She added: “It's not everyday your daughter gets knocked down by a car. You always think the worst.

“All they told me was that she was going to hospital and she was conscious.

“When I first saw her, she was on a plastic board, taped down so she couldn't move, with a neck brace.

“They had to take x-rays of her neck, knees and ankles.

“It was pretty scary.”

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said the authority was working with the school to produce a travel plan which examines how children get to school and also issues surrounding traffic outside of the school gates.

He said a new crossing patrol had been appointed and was due to start shortly.

Do you think the road is a danger to children? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk