Grieving father calls for safer streets action

Mayar died while walking with her mother, who was also injured in the accident

The grieving father of a four-year-old girl who died after being hit by a car has said urgent action is needed to make a city's streets safer.

Mayar Yahia had been walking home with her mother when she was knocked down in April in Upper Highgate Street, Birmingham.

On Saturday a rally and one-minute silence was held near where Mayar was killed.

"It's so hard," said Babiker Yahia, speaking of the day of the accident. "The young innocent, she doesn't know nothing."

Babiker Yahia wants to see speed bumps put in on the road where his four-year-old daughter was hit by a car

Mr Yahia described arriving at the scene on 14 April to find people "shouting and crying" and his daughter lying on the floor.

Just minutes later, a paramedic told him she had died.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed while inquiries continue.

People gathered about 13:00 BST on Upper Highgate Street in Birmingham to remember Mayar and hear addresses from her father and campaigners

A silence was held on Saturday afternoon to remember the "extraordinary young girl".

While her family want to see speed bumps placed near where Mayar died, a campaign group is calling for further action from the new Labour government.

Mat McDonald, chair of Better Streets for Birmingham, said: "We need to see leadership, we need to see investment and we need to see real and tangible changes to our streets, not just warm words and thoughts and prayers."

Birmingham City Council has previously responded to the group's open letter demanding action.