A TODDLER had a lucky escape after being hit while crossing a controversial zebra crossing in Colchester.

Three-year-old Edward Stewart was crossing Harwich Road, outside the Co-op store in his pushchair with his mum when a car careered into the buggy, catapulting Edward into the air.

He was taken to Colchester General Hospital, where he spent the night under observation.

The crossing was moved last year to improve road safety. At the time some residents, including Edward’s mum, feared the move might have the opposite effect.

Miss Stewart, 25, said she and her son were going to a teddy bears’ picnic, and popped into the Co-op store for food.

She added: “Fortunately, Edward wasn’t strapped in. He’d been walking around in the Co-op just before and I only take the buggy for longer days, in case he gets tired.

“I got to the crossing and a car on the opposite side had stopped, so I just thought it was OK to go.

“The next thing I remember, the buggy was just ripped out of my hands. It was about 13 feet down the road.

“Edward was catapulted out of the buggy. If he had been strapped in, it could have been a lot worse.”

Edward suffered bruising on his head and face, but was otherwise unhurt in the collision.

Miss Stewart said the accident supported her view Essex County Council was wrong to move the crossing further along Harwich Road.

She said: “It’s a really stupid place for it. The way cars come down that hill from Hazelmere, they have obviously gained speed and don’t have the chance to slow down or stop.

“The school put out a road safety leaflet a couple of months ago and I wrote to it about that crossing. It’s ironic, really.”

Michael Page, a spokesman for the county council, said: “The zebra crossing was moved as part of Essex County Council’s accident reduction scheme, as it was found more accidents were occurring on this section of the road.

“The site is constantly monitored as part of our casualty reduction programme.”

* The driver of the car involved in Wednesday’s collision, an 85-year-old man, has been spoken to by police.

No arrests have been made, but traffic police still want to speak to the driver of the car which had already stopped at the crossing before Edward was hit.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Jon Haslip, on 0300 3334444.