The devastated mum of a young crash victim has called for traffic chaos around a busy Whitehaven road to be tackled.

Eleven-year-old Ellie Hammell was involved in a collision with a bus at the junction of Sneckyeat Road and Homewood Road last Wednesday and was airlifted to a high-dependency unit in Liverpool.

She suffered a fractured skull and is still in hospital.

Her mum Brigitta said traffic problems on Sneckyeat Road and nearby streets have worsened as motorists park there to avoid paying for parking at the nearby West Cumberland Hospital.

She said: “Motorists are parking on junctions and are double park

ing which makes it difficult for vehicles to pass. There are too many cars parking there. It’s difficult for the buses to go down the road.”

She is calling for the buses to change their route and not to go through the estate.

Brigitta, of Sneckyeat Court, added that a lot of children play in the area and it needed to be safer.

Ellie, a Jericho School pupil, was crossing the road after getting an ice cream last Wednesday. She has bruises on the brain and a linear fracture to the base of her skull, and has now been transferred from the high-dependency unit at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to a ward.

Brigitta said: “Ellie is going to be here for a few weeks. It’s going to be a long way before she is 100 per cent.

“She has come on amazingly. She’s walking up and down, she’s eating and drinking.”

As a result of the incident, Jericho School is set to hold a green code awareness day to highlight road safety to pupils.

Family friend Susan Haldane has set up an online fund to raise £3,000 to help towards the family’s additional costs. Almost £1,500 has been raised so far.

Brigitta said: “I’m so overwhelmed, I can’t believe people have been so generous. There are so many lovely people – in Whitehaven and beyond.”

Money will be used to help the family, including revamping Ellie’s bedroom for when she returns home.

A fundraiser is being held at the Mirehouse Labour Club next Thursday (March 23), from 7pm.

People can hand in raffle prizes to Threads in Whitehaven. The event is free and admission is by ticket, but donations are welcome. Contact Threads or Charles Maudling on 01946 822379.