TWO west Wiltshire schoolchildren are in hospital after separate crashes on west Wiltshire roads yesterday.

A 14-year-old girl from Melksham was knocked down in Beanacre Road at 10.55am after stepping into the path of an oncoming car.

The teenager, a pupil at George Ward School in Melksham, suffered serious head injuries in the collision and was taken by air ambulance to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. Her condition is described as critical but stable.

Police are examining a silver Volvo car involved in the crash, which was being driven by a 74-year-old man from the Gloucestershire area. He was unhurt. The section of the A350 from the crash scene to Whitehall Garden Centre near Lacock was closed for more than four hours.

In a second accident at 2.25pm, a Warminster School student was knocked down outside the private school's gates in Church Street.

The boy, from Hong Kong, was airlifted to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, with serious head injuries. He is in a critical condition.

Witnesses to either crash should contact police on 0845 4087000. For the Melksham accident call Pc Phil Salsbury and for the Warminster accident call Pc Barney Williamson.