A 12-year-old boy narrowly escaped a serious head injury when he was hit by a falling shopping trolley in Thamesmead.

Lee Bennet of Mangold Way, Erith was walking by a bus stop at the junction between Wolvercote Road and Yarnton Way with a friend when a shopping trolley was thrown from the walk-way which crosses over the road.

Lee was hit on the back by the trolley which knocked him to the floor - he tried to get up and collapsed.

He was taken to hospital with a suspected broken back but escaped with a badly bruised back and concussion.

Doctors told Lee's mother, Kerry Hopkins, aged 30, that he was lucky not have suffered a serious head injury.

Miss Hopkins said: "He was only about then minutes away from where we live, he had been walking his friend to the bus stop.

"A couple saw what had happened and called the ambulance while his friend ran to get me - when he said it had hit is back, I thought it was broken.

"The doctors were saying that he was lucky that it missed his head as it would have caused a serious head trauma or worse.

"It's scary to think that he only went to the bus stop but he might not have come back.

"It's ridiculous, it could have hit a baby or an elderly lady."

Lee was sent home from hospital with pain-killers after an x-ray of his back showed it was not broken and the youngster has now recovered from his ordeal.

PC Chris Molnar, Thamesmead East ward officer, said: "This could have been a deliberate act, or tomfoolery gone wrong.

"Whatever the mindset, this could have resulted in serious injuries for the victim.

"Luckily the 12-year-old victim does not have life changing injuries.

"We need the community to assist us with this investigation to identify those responsible for this."

If you have any information about this incident contact PC Molnar on 020 8721 2049 or thamesmead.snt@met.police.uk

Alternatively you can contact CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.