THE family of a little boy who was seriously injured in a car crash that killed his father believe he will make a full recovery.

Aiden Halstead, eight, has suffered suspected brain damage, leaving him unable to remember the fatal head-on collision which left his father, Peter, dead.

But his aunt, Anne Patten, said she was confident he would make a full recovery.

Mr Halstead, 47 originally from Brierfield, was returning home with his family to Western Australia after holidaying through the Northern Territory when the crash happened earlier this month.

The father-of-two who was a former Mansfield High School pupil, died at the scene.

His wife Julie, 44, and children Harrison, 11, also survived the crash.

Aiden suffered a severe head injury, internal injuries and several broken bones but he is now able to sit up out of bed, chat and even joke with his family.

Ms Pattern, of Brierfield, said: "Aiden was in a coma for three days but he is now conscious and he has improved vastly.

"He is in the brain injury unit and still has a smashed ankle but he is laughing and making jokes.

"He doesn't know yet that his dad was killed and is expected to be in hospital for at least another eight weeks so it is looking unlikely that he will be out in time for christmas.

"It looks as though Aiden has suffered some brain damage as he can't remember the accident but we think it might not be permanent.

"We have just got back from visiting him. We were over in Australia for three weeks but other family members from Brierfield are still out there."

The family emigrated to Australia from East Lancashire more than 12 years ago.

Aiden, who was trapped upside down in the wreckage of his family car and was freed by emergency workers, has cried out in his sleep: "Let me out!" and has been suffering from nightmares.

Aiden has been transferred from Royal Darwin Hospital to St Margaret's in Perth.