A six-year-old boy has been seriously injured after being struck by a van on his way to school.

The child was hit by the vehicle on Dalry Road near its junction with Anderson Drive in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire.

He was taken to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock with a serious head injury following the incident at 8.55am on Monday.

Officers are trying to trace the driver of the van who left the scene before police arrived.

Sergeant Ian Thornton said: "The driver of the van did stop after the incident and spoke to an adult who had been with the young boy.

"The driver had left the scene before police arrival and I would ask him to contact police regarding this incident."

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101.