Five children have been hit by a car in south Liverpool leaving a number of them with serious injuries.
The casualties are all girls aged between 11 and 13 years old.
Merseyside Police said that police officers, firefighters and paramedics are currently at the scene.
The incident happened on Belvidere Road near Princes Park at around 3.20pm.
A passerby described seeing a collision involving a yellow Peugeot car and a number of pedestrians.
The driver of the Peugeot – a woman aged in her 80s – is also being treated at the scene.
Police said that some of the children received minor injuries and all their parents have been informed.
Merseyside Police said: "Police have closed the following roads and would advise motorists to avoid the area where possible as the roads will remain closed until investigation work can be carried out: Belividere Road, junction of Devonshire Road and Admiral Street, junction of Princess Gate and South Street."
Parents are advised to visit Belvidere Academy website for information about collecting their children from school.
A statement on The Belvedere Academy's school website read: "Road traffic incident: Unfortunately there has been a road traffic accident outside the academy. School bus service will be significantly delayed."
The school on Belvidere Road, Princes Park, is an independent girls' secondary school for 11 to 19-year-old students.
A spokeswoman for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said eight people were treated at the scene outside The Belvedere Academy.
Two casualties had critical injuries, three had serious injuries and three had minor injures, she added.
Six of the injured, aged 11 to 13, have been taken to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, and one 17 year old taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital.
The eighth casualty was discharged at the scene, said the NWAS.
A spokeswoman for the school said: "There is no comment at the moment."
The Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson tweeted: "Let's hope and pray for the five children hurt in the car accident outside Belvedere school. Our thoughts are with them and their families."