THE mother of a four-year-old girl badly injured after being knocked down outside a York school has called for a crossing to be put in place.

Leah Zeki, of Holgate, was crossing Dalton Terrace with two school friends and a parent from The Mount Junior School when she was knocked down last Friday.

She has since undergone surgery to reset two fractures in her leg, which has been put in a full cast and cannot be moved for up to eight weeks. She also suffered a cut to her face.

Her mother, Gaynor, said that, despite requests, City of York Council had so far not put a crossing in place. She has urged the council to reconsider, to prevent further accidents.

Mrs Zeki said: “It could have been so much more serious. There are literally tens of hundreds of kids that cross that road everyday. Since the traffic lay-out has changed it has got ten times worse. It’s a very busy area of York.”

Leah had walked through stationary traffic queuing towards Holgate but was knocked over by a car travelling in the opposite direction towards Tadcaster Road.

Mrs Zeki said she would need up to eight weeks off work as a prosecutor and business owner to look after Leah, who is using a wheelchair while she recovers.

She said Leah was dealing with her injuries well, but was tearful about the accident and is disappointed the family will have to miss the £2,500 “dream holiday” they have been saving towards in Turkey and are unlikely to be able to attend the Olympics.

A spokesman for The Mount School said: “The Mount School and The Mount Junior is deeply concerned for the well-being of our pupil, Leah Zeki, who was in a traffic accident on Dalton Terrace last Friday evening.

“We understand she is being very brave about her injury.”

The spokesman said the school taught pupils road safety and urged motorists to exercise extreme caution.

He said: “The school has been in touch with City of York Council about road safety measures around the school, and were successful in having ‘sleeping policeman’ installed on Driffield Terrace, and a pedestrian refuge on Dalton Terrace outside our reception area. In the past, parents have also been in touch with the council to enquire about additional signage and measures on Dalton Terrace.”

Richard Wood, assistant director of strategic planning and transport at the council, said: “The safety of pupils in all of York’s schools is a paramount concern in all transport, planning and development work undertaken in the city.”