Gerrard in Bentley collision with boy

A ten-year-old boy is recovering in hospital with leg injuries after colliding with a car driven by England football star Steven Gerrard.

The Liverpool captain was driving his £175,000 Bentley Continental Convertible along Grantham Road in Birkdale, Merseyside on Monday, when the accident happened, a spokesman for Gerrard said.

The boy, named in reports as Jamie Halliwell, had just left Our Lady of Lourdes School in Southport at around 3.15pm when he collided with the car.

He was transferred from Ormskirk District General Hospital to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool suffering from a suspected broken leg.

Gerrard's spokesman said the footballer stopped after the collision to comfort the youngster and will visit him in the next few days.

He said: "Steven was driving very slowly through an area of Birkdale when a young boy ran out and hit the side of his car. Steven comforted the boy until the paramedics arrived."

"The Liverpool captain was distressed over the accident and has been in contact with the boy's family to check his progress and plans to visit him in the next couple of days.

"There were apparently several eye-witnesses who saw the accident. Steven later attended a police station where he produced his driving documents as a matter of routine and made a statement about the accident."

The boy's grandfather, Reg Rogan, has said Jamie was "very brave".

He said: "Steven Gerrard knelt down and held his hand and he seemed genuinely upset. You could tell he was in shock."

Liverpool FC are due to face Marseille in the Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday.