An eight-year-old boy seriously injured when he was hit by a police car is still in hospital undergoing treatment for broken bones.

The boy was struck by a police car at a pelican crossing in St Leonards at 8pm on Wednesday.

The officers in the marked vehicle were responding to an emergency call when it hit the schoolboy near the junction of Tower Road and the A2102 London Road.

They had been told there was a fight taking place nearby in which weapons were thought to be involved.

The victim, James Maloney, was rushed to the nearby Conquest Hospital with a suspected broken pelvis and broken leg.

Today it was confirmed the youngster is still at the hospital receiving treatment for his broken leg. His condition was today described as "stable" by medical staff.

Sussex Police have voluntarily referred the incident to the national Police Complaints Authority, which is co-ordinating an official investigation.

The leading officer in the case will be Detective Inspector Trevor Bowles, of Sussex Police Professional Standards Department.

He will work closely with the force's traffic division.

PCA member Jo Dobry will supervise the process to ensure the investigation is carried out with complete impartiality.

Ms Dobry expressed her sympathy for the boy and promised to do her best to make sure no stone was left unturned in the quest to find out how the accident happened.

She said: "I will ensure there is a thorough and impartial inquiry into this very sad incident. I wish the young man a speedy recovery."

A PCA spokesman confirmed the driver of the police vehicle will be treated in exactly the same way as any other motorist involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

The police driver may face prosecution if it turns out he or she was at fault.

The investigation is likely to centre on the question of the boy's position on or near the pedestrian crossing when he was struck by the car.

Other factors will be the speed of the vehicle when it was travelling along the stretch of road and the exact time of impact.

The spot where the accident happened is in a 30mph speed limit zone and just yards from the Christ Church Church of England Primary School.

Concerns about the safety of the pelican crossing have been voiced in the past and it is due to be upgraded to a safer Puffin crossing by East Sussex County Council at the end of this year.

Residents have previously said there should be safety improvements on the stretch of road and are expected to voice their concern again following the latest accident.

The Police Complaints Authority has appealed to people who saw the crash or the car to come forward. Witnesses should contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.