Three teenagers have appeared in court accused of joyriding' after a 14-year-old girl was knocked down by a car in an accident on Pendleton Road in Reigate on Friday morning.

The young victim suffered serious injuries to her head and leg in the crash and was fighting for her life in the specialist Atkinson Morley Hospital in south London as the Life went to press.

Her family were at her bedside in the hospital's intensive care unit where her condition has been described as critical but stable.'

Over the weekend three teenagers, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were charged with aggravated theft of a vehicle causing injury and appeared before Redhill magistrates on Monday morning. They were remanded in custody and will face a full hearing starting next Monday, March 24.

The car, which was stolen in Reigate on Thursday evening, was found abandoned in Whitehall Lane, Woodhatch later on Friday.

The accident spot was near Reigate School and has a poor accident record. Last year a teacher at the school was killed in a motorcycle accident nearby and county councillors are due to consider a proposal to install a pedestrian crossing on the road next month.

John Cain, head teacher at Reigate School, said he hoped the Reigate transport committee would agree to the pedestrian crossing as there was a real need for it, and many parents at the school said they were concerned for the safety of their children due to the high speeds cars travel along Pendleton and Woodhatch roads.

Councillor Michael Ormerod (Lab, South Park and Woodhatch) said: "People in the community in South Park tell me that there have been a number of incidents in the locality involving joyriding in stolen cars. I do hope that this will be investigated because there is strong feeling in the community on this issue."