A 12-year-old girl seriously injured after being hit by a car as she walked to school was cared for by firefighters who found her lying in the road.

Paige Boyes was knocked down as she crossed the A2 at Strood on Wednesday, January 27.

At about the same time, a crew from Strood fire station were called out on another job.

But when they saw Paige had been badly injured they stopped and stayed with her until paramedics arrived.

The kind gesture of the crew was appreciated by Paige’s parents, Alun and Martina, who sent a thank you email to Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Paige is now recovering at home in Hyacinth Road, Strood, and was delighted to be reunited with her heroes this week.

Mr Boyes said: “We were both grateful to the crew for what they did and it was great we could thank them personally.

“Paige got a little emotional when she met them but it was great to be able to shake their hands.”

The crew arrived at the scene literally seconds after Paige’s accident.

They positioned the fire engine to block the carriageway and radioed back to their emergency control centre to ask for an alternative fire engine to be sent to the other incident.

Firefighter Neal Dwyer laid on the wet road with Paige to comfort her until she could be moved, holding her hand and covering her with a blanket.

His colleagues Nick Bate, John Bennett and watch manager Alan Brown, carried out traffic control, assessed her injuries, gave her oxygen therapy and kept talking to try to reassure her.

Paramedics took her to King’s College Hospital in London where it was discovered the Strood Academy pupil suffered a slight bleed to her brain, a cut head and a broken tibia and fibula in her right leg.

However, four days later she was well enough to be discharged.

Paige will not be able to go back to school until after half-term, but her teachers are making sure she doesn’t miss out on her studies.

Mr Boyes, 37, added: “We can’t thank the school, our friends, our family and everyone who helped out at the scene enough for what they did.

“We would also like the driver of the car to know Paige is recovering well.”