SPEED bumps will be installed near a school to prevent further accidents after a dog lost a leg after it was hit by a car

The creation of the traffic calming measures, to be installed in the coming weeks outside of Hexham’s Sele First School, follows an accident on the road 18 months ago which resulted in a dog being badly injured.

Bilko, a black Patterdale cross belonging to the town’s deputy mayor Coun. Steve Ball, suffered a broken leg after being hit by a car, and contracted an infection which resulted in the leg being amputated.

Two speed bumps will be placed on the road after Coun. Trevor Cessford, county councillor for Hexham Central with Acomb, funded the scheme through his members’ allowance.

Coun. Ball said: “With the accident so close to the school, that has helped us get these traffic calming measures. The driver of the car never saw the dog and that could quite easily have been a child from the nursery or school.”

Coun. Cessford said he had no hesitation in supporting the scheme.

He said: “I put my own money into the play area next to the school because I want children to play there.

“The accident could have been a lot worse, and the dog could have died or somebody’s child or grandchild could have been involved.”