THE father of two Worcester schoolgirls knocked down at a busy city junction has made a plea for safer crossings in the area.

Nigel Davis spoke out after eight-year-old Jade and nine-year-old Gemma were struck by a car on Friday afternoon.

"It's been a warning but it could have been a lot worse," said Mr Davis.

"We really need a safer crossing there because the girls couldn't see the car coming behind all of the stationary cars.

"Most of the local people have been petitioning against this new Tesco that's been given planning permission, because it will draw people in from other roads and make it even more busy.

"There's lots of traffic going in different directions. Drivers are coming down the London Road and doing quite a speed."

Jade was detained in Worcestershire Royal Hospital overnight and Gemma is still receiving medical treatment for her swollen eye.

Pub car park

The incident happened at the junction of Wyld's Lane and London Road when the girls, who attend Nunnery Wood Primary School, were making their way to the Sebright Arms pub car park.

"Where the girls were there was two lanes of traffic but there's an island in the middle, but there were cars stopped and they thought that both sides were waiting to go, but they weren't."

Mr Davis described how he was getting ready to go to work when a friend of the girls banged on his door to tell him what had happened to his children.

"It was more worrying than anything because I just didn't know what I would find.

"There were loads of people and a couple of ambulances had already arrived."

Police are now urging any witnesses to the incident, which involved a silver Ford Puma, to contact PC Ian Hope, at Worcester police station, on 01905 723888, quoting reference c/574536.