Calls have been made for improvements to the A360 near Littleton Panell after a crash that left a 13-year-old boy fighting for his life and his mum in hospital.

The crash involved a black Citroen C3 car which left the road on a bend between the turning for Great Cheverell and Black Dog crossroads just after 10am on Sunday.

The car, which was travelling towards Devizes, crashed through a wooden fence and into a brook below. The car landed upright but water came into the car and firefighters from Devizes, Melksham and Trowbridge had to pump out the water to keep it at a low level while rescuing the mother and son who were both unconscious.

The mother and son were lifted out through the boot and given advanced life support from paramedics and SWIFT medic Dr James Mapstone at the scene.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance paramedic Richard Miller said: “Everyone who was there, ambulance staff, the doctor and firefighters worked seamlessly to treat the two casualties.

“They were out of the car very quickly and a high level of care was given.”

The boy suffered serious injuries and was flown by the Great Western Air Ambulance to the regional trauma centre at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

His mother suffered serious facial injuries and was taken by ambulance to Salisbury District Hospital.

The boy is a pupil at Dauntsey’s School, West Lavington. It is understood he and his family live in Littleton Panell.

Another serious crash happened in the same location in March 2009 when motorist Bozena Krupka left the road and her car ended up upside down in the brook. She was saved by passing motorist, Paul Wiltshire and PC Tom Kinderman.

Mark Lascelles, headmaster of Dauntsey’s School, said: “The whole school community are thinking of the student and wish him well.”

Mr Lascelles has written to MP Claire Perry as well as the Devizes Area Board to ask for the road to be examined to see if improvements can be made.

He said: “This is a notorious accident blackspot. I am told that cars go off the road there once or twice a year. I have asked if they can take some action to make that stretch of road safer.”

Potterne resident Andrew Le Coyte, a dentist, drives along the A360 regularly because his children attend Dauntsey’s School.

He said: “In the 12 years I have lived in Potterne there must have been seven or eight crashes there. There’s water there all the time so if you have an accident you are risking drowning. It’s a serious health concern.

“Something should be done to make it safer. Maybe crash barriers would be better.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: “We will be working with the police and alongside the traffic group of the Devizes Area Board and we will consider any recommendations made.”

She said in addition to Sunday’s accident there had been just one other accident on that stretch of road since September 2009.

She added that in 2009 the speed limit was reduced from 60mph to 50mph.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash to call them on 101.