THE heartbroken parents of a toddler killed when he was hit by a car have paid tribute to "mummy's little angel".

Muhammad Ahmed, known as Bilal, was hit by a black Renault Clio in Ellesmere Road in Morris Green at 5.25pm on Thursday in what is being considered a tragic accident.

The three-year-old suffered severe head injuries and, despite the efforts of the emergency services, died in hospital a short time later.

Relatives and friends were due to join his parents Jawairia Aslam and Ghulam Ahmed at the youngster's funeral scheduled to be held tonight according to Muslim custom.

Paying tribute to her son, Ms Aslam said: "He was very courageous. He wasn't afraid of anything. We nicknamed him Bilal after a soldier in my religion.

"He had very bad eczema since he was six months' old and I thought if I named him that he would be able to fight off the skin problems. He was mummy's little angel."

The boisterous toddler was due to join his nephew at the nursery at St Bede's Academy in Morris Green Lane on Monday.

Bilal enjoyed going to the park and feeding ducks and being treated to a McDonald's meal by his taxi driver father.

Ms Aslam recalled with fond memory her son's face filling with laughter while chasing pigeons in the town centre.

She said: "He liked to boss people about and he was a very 'boyish' boy. He loved cars. But he could also be soft. He would get a bump on his finger and he'd come to me and want me to kiss it better. He was my angel. He was my hope for life.

"Everybody is shocked that he's gone."

Ms Aslam had taken Bilal and his baby brother Umar in the car from their Rishton Lane, Great Lever, home to visit her older sister Yasfa Aslam, who has two children around the same age as Muhammad.

The children's grandfather, who also lives in Great Lever, was also present at the house.

Ms Aslam took Bilal into the house first and returned to the car to unclip Umar but the toddler slipped out of the house and ran in the footsteps of his mother into the street where the collision happened.

Ms Aslam said: "It really was an accident. I didn't know he was behind me. He looked left and took a step. He never used to cross the road by himself."

The driver of the Renault, which was travelling westbound, stopped at the scene and spoke to police.

Boy, 3, dies after being hit by car in Ellesmere Road, Morris Green

He was not arrested and is believed to have had his own family, including a months old baby, in the car.

Flowers and stuffed toys, including a cuddly elephant, were left both outside the sister's home and at the spot where the crash occurred in Ellesmere Road between the junctions of Morris Green and Asher Street.

They have been placed by shocked locals and strangers saddened at the news including one from St Bede's Academy.

One tribute read: "RIP little man. Fly high with your angel wings. Sending love from our family to yours."

Prayers were said at Makka Mosque in Grecian Crescent, Great Lever, attended by the family.

Sergeant Mark Thomas, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "This is a tragic turn of events that has resulted in a young boy losing his life. Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.

"I’m urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact us as soon as possible."

The death has been reported to the Bolton coroner and an inquest is expected to be opened in the coming days. 

Anyone with information about the collision should contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.