A three-year-old boy is in hospital with a serious head injury after being hit by a car in George Town in Tasmania’s north.

Police say the boy ran out of a shop on Macquarie Street in George Town just before 12:00pm Saturday.

He ran across the footpath and onto the road where he was struck by the car.

Constable Tammi Lambert said a 21-year-old learner driver was behind the wheel under the instruction of a licensed driver.

“It was distressing for everyone that was involved,” she said

Initial investigations and witness reports suggest it was a low speed accident and police said drugs and alcohol were not factors.

Constable Lambert said the woman’s car has been seized and the investigation is continuing.

“At this stage there’s no charges been laid,” she said.

The road was blocked to traffic for about three hours.