Girl hit by police car 'critical'

A 12-year-old girl was in a critical condition after she was knocked down by a police car attending an emergency call.

The girl was knocked down on Rochdale Road, in the Harpurhey area of Manchester.

She was struck by a fully liveried Vauxhall Astra estate police car, which was attending a report of a fight between a large group of men.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester police said the car was displaying its lights and siren when the accident took place.

The force was today appealing for witnesses.

The girl was being treated at Manchester's Pendlebury Children's Hospital, where her condition was described as "critical".