Schoolboy, 13, fighting for life after being hit by gritter lorry on way to school in Caerphilly as heavy snow hits

A SCHOOLBOY is fighting for his life after being hit by a gritter lorry on his way to school.

The boy, 13, is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after the incident.

Cops said he was injured around 8.20am today on the Lansbury Park estate in Caerphilly - one of the areas of Wales worst affected the snowfall.

The road was closed as police officers and paramedics rushed to the scene.

A male lorry driver, 36, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention and remains in custody.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: "We received a report of a road traffic collision in Lansbury Park Road, Caerphilly, at around 8.20am on Thursday, March 9.

"Our officers and paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service and Wales Air Ambulance attended. The collision involved a gritting vehicle and a pedestrian.

"The pedestrian, a 13-year-old boy, has been taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are thought to be considered life-threatening."

It comes as the Met Office issued an amber warning for "strong winds bringing blizzard conditions" and up to 16 inches of snow to the area stretching from Stoke-on-Trent to Durham.

A separate amber alert covers Wales and the West Midlands and advises of similar "significant disruption".

Overnight temperatures dropped to -16C in northern Scotland on Wednesday night - making it the coldest night of the year so far.