The family of a young Telford boy seriously injured when he was hit by a car today thanked everyone involved in the efforts to save the youngster’s life.

His parents, Sean and Tammy Rowley, said with everyone’s “loving support” their son, Tom, who had his eighth birthday a day after the accident on Thursday in Leegomery, would stand a chance of pulling through.

The youngster was walking back from Hadley Park Stores when the collision happened in Hadley Park Road near his home on Thursday just before 5.30pm.

He remained in a “critical but stable condition” in Birmingham Children’s Hospital today.

A number of people have posted messages of support on the Shropshire Star’s website.

In a statement posted on the website, his parents and 11-year-old sister, Abi, said: “We thank you for your positive comments.

We would like to send a heartfelt thank you firstly to the ambulance crew who transported Tom to the Princess Royal Hospital.

“Secondly to all of the staff at the PRH, who worked so hard to enable Tom to be transported by helicopter. Thirdly, we would like to thank the air ambulance team for delivering him safely to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

“Finally, we would like to thank all of the staff in the intensive care unit at Birmingham, who continue to work tirelessly to keep Tom with us. Without all of these people Tom would not be with us, so thank-you to you all and please continue to will him on.”

In another message Tom’s great-grandfather, Howard Jones, said: “My wife and I are praying for his recovery, we are at present living in Malta, we are returning to the UK in a few weeks.”