A GREENOCK mum feared her 10-year-old daughter would die after being injured in a terrifying road accident.

Angela Herbison was devastated when she saw her wee girl Charlie lying in the middle of a busy road.

She says the schoolgirl had been crossing at the lights in Drumfrochar Road on Saturday when she was knocked down.

Angela said: “The wean was lying between the Drumfrochar side of the road and the island in the middle of the road.

“My neighbour ran up to the flat and said you need to go up to the traffic lights — it’s Charlie.” The 37-year-old said: “I had to put on a brave face for my daughter but the first thing you think is ‘how badly hurt is she, is going to live?’” “She kept on saying she was sorry and asked if she could get a cuddle.” The youngster suffered bruising down the right-hand side of her body and needed plastic surgery to repair a gash at the side of her mouth and cheek.

She was rushed to Inverclyde Royal by ambulance where she underwent a series of tests, including a CT scan, and a full body x-ray to check for neck/head injuries.

The youngster was later transferred to Yorkhill Children’s Hospital where she spent almost two hours in theatre as medics stitched the deep facial cut.

Angela, who lives in Drumfrochar Road with Charlie and her older daughter Morgan, 15, said: “She had plastic surgery to her lip and the inside and outside of her cheek, which was detached from her lip.” The traumatic experience has taken a toll on Angela who is still quite tearful when she talks about the ordeal.

She is also worried about the impact the accident will have on Charlie, a pupil at Whinhill Primary.

Angela said: “I don’t think she knew what was happening. She lost a tooth and handed it to me, which I put in my pocket.

“She was a bit dazed and confused.” Charlie said: “I thought it was a dream at first afterwards.” Charlie was allowed home on Monday after treatment and is now desperate to get back to school to meet up with all her friends.

Angela was concerned the surgery may have left permanent scarring but she has been reassured by doctors the wound will eventually heal with no lasting effects.

She said: “She’s a bit self-conscious about people looking at her.

“Doctors say it will take 10 months to heal but it won’t leave a scar. I’m quite relieved about that.” Angela claims the traffic lights at the crossing are out of sequence and may have played a part in the accident, but council bosses have vehemently denied that the lights are faulty.

They said today they were in full working order and routinely checked during the last month. Police at the scene also did not raise any issue with the lights at the time of the accident.

Meanwhile Angela wants to thank the driver for keeping within the 20mph speed limit and staying at the scene until Charlie was taken to hospital.

She says if the driver had been driving faster, her daughter could have been killed.

She said: “When I got there the driver of the car was standing at the railings. He was shaking like a leaf and said he was sorry.

“He was doing 20 miles per hour. If he hadn’t been, that wean would have been dead, she would have had no chance.

“I want to shake his hand for observing the speed limit. I want him to know that Charlie is ok and hope he is doing well too.” A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “I can confirm the accident took place at 11am on Saturday. We recived a call from ambulance control to say that a female had been knocked down on the pedestrian crossing.

“Officers later attended the hospital and ascertained the female was a 10-year-old girl.

“It is police procedure that traffic lights are checked following incidents on pedestrian crossings to confirm they are working and the crossing was fully operational at the time.” Angela wants to thank the Broomhill Boys Club who were getting picked up at the Broomhill Tavern for helping to stop the traffic and also their coach, a first aider, who went to Charlie’s aid. Special thanks also to Constable Willie Allan for his support at IRH.