Cops hunt for hit and run driver

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses to the incident, which happened just after 8am as the boy attempted to cross Ayr Road, near its junction with Firwood Road.

The teen was struck by a small, dark coloured 4x4, and witnesses say the driver paused for a short time before driving off. The boy, meanwhile, was taken to the Victoria Infirmary for surgery on a broken wrist.

Sergeant Kirsten McLatchie said: “At that time of the morning, there would have been a lot of people and vehicles around. I’m appealing to anyone who may have been on their way to work, school or the local shops to contact us with information.

“We are in the process of checking CCTV images to gather additional information and are urging people to get in touch on non-emergency number 101, or via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

The busy road — speed limit 40mph — was the subject of debate in January last year, when school crossing patrollers campaigned to East Renfrewshire Council to have an out-of-service speed camera reinstated.

Then, a crossing patroller commented: “If it flashed, people would think about getting caught and they’d slow down. The safety of the kids is the main concern here.”

This week, Facebook follower Kirsty Keenan told The Extra: “My dad is a school crossing patroller, and both he and his partner have been subjected to abuse from drivers who are in a hurry. There are plenty of times when some have almost failed to stop. It’s about time the camera was reinstated.”

A spokeswoman for East Renfrewshire Council responded: “Road safety is of paramount importance to the council. There is not a road safety issue on Ayr Road, and it is not an accident blackspot. Surveys have not highlighted a speeding issue.

“We will be introducing improvements to part of Ayr Road in the coming weeks and installing a puffin crossing near the petrol station.”