The family of a nine-year-old boy who died after being hit by a car on a busy road have called for safety improvements at the spot.

Henry Nugent’s relatives do not blame the driver of the Saab which knocked him over in Chalky Road, Portslade, on Thursday morning but say the road has always been dangerous.

Henry’s grandfather Bing Quick, of Downland Court, Portslade, said: “There is the sports centre, the school, the park and a bus stop all on that busy stretch of narrow road.

“Other children have been knocked down there in the past and now it’s taken our little Henry and this is going to happen again if something isn’t done.”

The youngster’s family revealed that Henry, of Newick Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, had been taught about road safety by his mother Louise Quick, 35.

She was always careful with him and his five-year-old brother George near roads.

She was with Henry at the time of the accident and told him to wait after getting off a bus on the opposite side of the road to Portslade Community College.

But the excited youngster, who had been about to start his first day of a summer holiday activity week with his cousins, popped his head out from behind the bus to see whether the way was clear when he was hit.

He suffered head injuries and died on Saturday morning at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

His uncle Justin Quick, also of Downland Court, said: “We don’t know what the answer is with the road but something needs to be done about it.”

Councillors have received calls from concerned residents in the area.

Bob Carden, Brighton and Hove city councillor for North Portslade, met officers from Hove road policing unit to discuss people’s worries. He said: “I have known Henry’s family all my life and it really has touched me because I have so many memories of him.

“I can only offer my deepest sympathies to the family and I will do all I can to make sure it doesn’t happen to any other family.”

Trevor Alford, also a councillor for North Portslade, has started a petition for safety improvements on the road.

He said: “I started off the petition last Friday, prompted by the tragic accident, although I think most local people have had concerns about Chalky Road for some time.

“I petitioned initially as I felt we should have a pedestrian crossing together with a 20mph limit but over the last few days, residents have highlighted quite rightly a whole range of issues which need looking at.

“What happened last week was a tragic accident. No one is blaming anyone but the whole of Chalky Road is dangerous.”

The petition already has more than 200 signatures and Coun Alford plans to present it to the city council.

Meanwhile people who knew Henry continued to leave flowers and messages outside Coldean Primary School, where he was a pupil.

Headteacher Margaret Burdsey said: “We are all absolutely devastated. It is a real tragedy and it is affecting the whole