The incident happened at around 12.30am on Sunday. The youngsters were walking along Starkholmes Road when a Seat Ibiza mounted the pavement and collided with them.

Two 16-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man, all from Wirksworth, were treated for minor injuries at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. The 13-year-old girl, from Fritchley, was taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital with head injuries where she remains in a critical condition.

The 21-year-old driver was not injured and police have launched an investigation.

Campaigners have renewed calls for highways officials to take action at the notorious road and say collisions have increased over the past two years, since Matlock Bridge was made one-way.

Matlock town councillor Ian Milne said the route was often used by boy-racers and residents have appealed to Derbyshire County Council to install traffic calming measures and more restrictions.

He added: "It is becoming unbelievable. In the last four or five weeks I have counted about eight incidents.

"There is a terrible problem with boy racers. We have been informed they are using Starkholmes as part of the circuit around Matlock."

Matlock mayor Geoff Stevens added: "I'm very sorry to hear something like this has happened. I think there is an urgency to do something about Starkholmes Road. It is not an easy problem but something must be done to slow traffic down in the short term."

A county council spokeswoman said speed surveys had been carried out in the Starkholmes area and the results were being analysed to see what action, if any, needed to be taken.

The results will be sent to the town council.

She added that they were waiting for details from the police about the incident on Sunday.