Changes need to be made outside a primary school in Beaconsfield after a four-year-old boy was in a collision with a car, campaigners have said.

An online petition which was setup following the accident earlier this month, has been signed by about 400 people in a bid to try and have road safety improvements implemented outside St Mary and All Saints Primary School in Maxwell Road.

The young boy was hit by a BMW near the school on February 2 and despite suffering only minor injuries, the founder of the petition and a witness to the accident, Bob Massie, said it should serve as a warning, and an effort has to be made to prevent serious collisions in the future.

He said: “I saw the accident happen. The mum was distraught and the little lad was just lying on the floor with blood coming from his nose.

“They seemed to be okay, but I think everyone was quite shaken up, and I just thought ‘what if it was one of our grandchildren?’ it is just awful.

“Maxwell Road is a very busy road and there have been a few accidents in the last couple of years – something should be done to try and prevent this.

“I think options should be explored about what we can do to improve conditions on the road for children and adults.”

Ideally, Mr Massie says a Belisha beacon crossing would make a big difference to road conditions, allowing a safe route to and from school for families.

But he has also looked into “child manikins” on the side of the road which have worked in a number of busy towns and cities as a way to ensure drivers look at the pavements as they drive past.

These are meant to look like children and therefore drivers are likely to slow down to ensure there are no accidents.

This option would be cheaper compared to the crossing, and “could make a difference”, Mr Massie says.

The school used to have a crossing patroller too, but they have struggled to find a replacement in recent years.

Mr Massie said: “It is a real shame that we cannot get anyone to help out in the road, it can be inconvenient but it does pay and I am sure there will be people who could do this.

“We are not sure if anything can be changed, but until they are this would be ideal in trying to help people cross safely.”

He also said the 30mph speed limit of the road could be dropped to 20mph with cars often seen speeding on the route.

To see the petition, visit http://chn.ge/1HTe0E8 and to discover more school crossing patroller vacancies in your area log-on to www.buckscc.gov.uk/jobs/school-crossing-patrollers.