Boy, seven, crushed by tram as he crosses tracks on way to school

A seven-year-old boy was being treated in hospital for serious leg injuries today after he was hit by a tram on his way to school in Croydon.

The boy was crossing the tram tracks in Addington with his mother when he was struck, shortly after 8am this morning.

Police, paramedics and the Surrey air ambulance were called to Fieldway tram stop in Lodge Lane. The boy was treated at the scene before being taken by ambulance to St George's Hospital in Tooting.

His mother was pushing a pushchair as they hurried across the tracks. The tram driver is understood to have used his emergency brakes but was unable to stop in time.

Sources said that the boy had suffered severe crush injuries to his legs and faced major surgery. His condition was said to be stable. Tram services between Addington Village and New Addington were suspended after the accident.

A British Transport Police spokesman said the collision was being treated as "non-suspicious".

Police sources said accidents involving trams in Croydon were rare.

In 2008 an elderly woman suffered leg injuries after being struck by a tram. In the same year a man died after a collision between a tram and a bus.

A Transport for London spokesman said London Tramlink would be investigating today's accident.