Several children hit by car in Co Antrim

Several children have been knocked over in a serious collision involving a car and pedestrians.

The crash happened on the Loughill Road in the village of Cloughmills, near Ballymena in Co Antrim.

A woman was taking six children to school just after 8.30am this morning when a car collided with them in the village.

Emergency services attended the scene and the women and three of the children were taken to hospital.

The woman is also said to be in a serious condition.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesman said: “There are more than two or three children knocked over.”

The road has been closed at its junctions with Main Street and Lislaban Road and emergency services are attending.

The accident happened on a country road on the edge of the village.

A police helicopter flew in tight circles overhead and boiler-suited forensics experts hunted for evidence.

Local residents said the children and their mother walked regularly along the road on the way to school.

One neighbour said the youngsters ranged in age from toddlers to teenagers.

“They were lovely wee children, terribly good-looking and well-dressed and well provided for,” she said.

She added that the road had no footpath or lights.

The mother is well-known locally.