A TAXI driver told today of his shock after his car was involved in a collision with a four-year-old boy.

Mahmood Khan, 39, a driver for Horninglow Taxis, was travelling down Sydney Street, Horninglow, just after 4pm on Saturday when the child ran out into the road and into the side of his car.

The boy is believed to have sustained a broken leg in the incident and was taken by air ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Ambulance bosses earlier this week warned motorists and children to be on their guard around ice cream vans, and Mr Khan confirmed that the presence of such a vehicle had been a factor in the incident.

"I was driving along when suddenly the young lad ran into the road and into the side of my vehicle," said Mr Khan.

"There were two adults with him while he was buying an ice cream - it must have just been a split second that he managed to get away from them.

"I stopped immediately and rang the ambulance. When they came, they found that the boy had a scratch on his head. They wanted to make sure he was okay so they called for the air ambulance to take him to hospital."

The boy - who is believed to live in Sydney Street - is understood to have spent three nights in hospital before being discharged on Tuesday. He was today recovering at home with his family.

As he relived the incident, Mr Khan - who was carrying two passengers at the time - said he was thankful it had not had more serious consequences.

"I was really shocked when it happened - I was shaking," he said. "I have been driving for 20 years and nothing like this has happened before. You just don't want it to happen to you.

"If he had run out half a second earlier it might have been a different thing - I don't want to think what might have happened.

"It took me three days to get back into a car after it happened. I'm still shaking now and every time I close my eyes I get flashbacks.

"I'm just glad that the child was okay. I'm very relieved that he is well and out of hospital. I just want to put this behind me now."

As reported in Wednesday's Mail, there was confusion as to the details of the incident after Staffordshire Police incorrectly said the pedestrian was a girl of eight.

A spokesman for the force yesterday apologised for the confusion caused by the error.

"The police appeal initially referred to the injured youngster as an eight-year-old girl," said the spokesman. "This information was given in good faith but was later found to be wrong.

"Police have spoken with the injured boy's family and apologised for the error and the distress caused by inaccurate information being given to local media."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to telephone Staffordshire Police on 08453 302010.

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