Police have issued an appeal for witnesses after a five-year-old boy was knocked over by a hit and run driver.

Archie Currier was left lying in the road after being struck near a Herne Bay Infant school.

He was with his grandmother when he stepped off the kerb and was hit a passing 4x4 type vehicle which did not stop.

He fell to the ground and hit his head and was later taken to hospital and kept in overnight for observation.

It happened just weeks after Herne Bay Infant School warned parents that thoughtless parking on the zig zags and double yellow lines outside is “endangering children’s lives”.

The incident occurred on around 4pm on Wednesday, March 29 and Archie was taken to the QEQM Hospital at Margate with a swelling to his head.

His parents Tony and Catherine Currier, of Gordon Road, Herne Bay, say they are just hugely relieved he was not more seriously hurt.

Catherine, who works at the Marine Hotel in Tankerton, said: "On this occasion, it had nothing to do with parked cars obstructing the view outside the school.

"It was just one of those things. Archie is normally very aware of roads and knows the danger.

"But a momentary lapse of concentration is all it takes and unfortunately he stepped off the footpath.

"He was with his grandmother and they had already crossed the road together and he went ahead on his scooter to the next corner where he always waits for her.

"It’s just around the corner from where we live but he slipped out of her sight for a couple of seconds.

"Another parent who witnessed it said it was quite clear he had been hit, but whether the driver realised I don’t know.

“The witness thinks it was a white, old-style 4x4 vehicle and we have now reported it to the police."

She added: "He’s absolutely fine now but had a lucky escape. Another foot into the road and it could have been so much worse."

Police spokesman Scarlet Jones said: "We received a report on Thursday, March 30 that a collision involving a boy and a vehicle in Stanley Road had occurred the previous day at around 4pm and the vehicle had not stopped at the scene. The boy attended hospital as a precaution.

"Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police on 01834 222289 quoting reference 30-0500.