Teachers of a schoolboy hit by a black cab are working to inform his classmates that their friend is in a critical condition.

The Robin Hood Primary School pupil was hit while riding his bike near a major roundabout yesterday afternoon.

According to Kingston police the child was taken to St Georges Hospital with multiple injuries after the incident on Robin Hood Way at about 3.30pm.

Headteacher Jeff Lloyd said: “I was shocked and saddened to hear that one of our Year 3 pupils was involved in a road traffic accident yesterday afternoon, after he had left school for the day.

“I understand that his injuries are serious and that he is in a critical condition.

“School staff are working closely with the local authority to ensure that our children are informed of the news and supported in an age-appropriate way.

“The thoughts of all the staff, governors, parents and children are with the pupils’ family at this desperately worrying time.”

Police said the driver stopped at the scene and no arrests have been made.

A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said: “We were called just before 3.30pm yesterday to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian.

“We sent London's air ambulance, a single responder in a car, an ambulance crew and a duty manager to the scene.

“Our staff treated a boy - reported to be eight years old - for multiple injuries. He was taken as a priority, escorted by the air ambulance doctor, to St Georges Hospital.”