A YOUNG Albanian refugee suffered a serious leg injury as she crossed the road to buy a loaf of bread.

Rima Bagratyan was hurt in a collision with a car last night.

And Bolton traffic police are warning youngsters to take greater care crossing the roads during the dark winter evenings.

The 10-year-old girl, of Maplewood Gardens, was crossing nearby Halliwell Road to buy a loaf of bread from the shops when she was in collision with a Ford Galaxy driven by Leslie Sharrock, aged 54, of Claypool Road, Horwich.

Keith Woods, of Spinney Nook, Harwood, was a passenger in the Galaxy.

Rima was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital following the accident at 5pm and her condition was today described as comfortable.

Halliwell Road was closed for 30 minutes following the accident.

An earlier accident happened in Thicketford Road, Tonge Moor, when a 10-year-old girl was in collision with a Renault Clio.

The youngster was treated for minor injuries at the Royal Bolton Hospital after colliding with the side of the vehicle, but was not detained overnight.

A spokesman for Bolton traffic police said: "With the clocks having gone back it is getting darker much earlier and parents need to be reminding their children to take extra care crossing the road. If possible, children should be wearing reflective clothing to make them stand out in the dark."

Traffic Police are hunting a fail-to-stop driver following a crash last night.

Two people suffered minor injuries when a Rover car collided with a Ford Fiesta being driven by Colin Cotton, from St Helens, along Chorley Old Road.

Passengers in the car Jennifer Devlin, 32, and Kayleigh Cotton, 10, sustained a lower back injury and bump to the head but were not detained in the Royal Bolton Hospital after treatment.

The driver of the Rover car failed to stop following the crash at 9pm. Any witnesses are asked to contact Bolton traffic unit on 0161 856 5972. Rima Bagratyan