THE mother of a woman run over in a Nelson street has branded thieves 'pathetic' for stealing two signs appealing for witnesses to the accident.

Mother-of-three Jane Loughlin, 40, was left fighting for her life after being run over in Nelson by a motorist who failed to stop.

Police investigating the hit-and-run say the signs were vital in helping them piece together what happened to Jane.

She was found in Leeds Road, near the junction with Walton Lane, with serious multiple injuries including a fractured collar bone, broken ribs and internal injuries in November last year.

Police described what happened to Jane as "a mystery" and put the witness appeal signs out close to the scene in the hope that it would bring forward some information.

But both signs, which include details of the incident and who to phone with information, have been stolen. Officers noticed the thefts when they went to collect the signs last week.

Jane's mum, Margaret Leonard, 63, of North Street, in Colne, who has offered a £1,000 reward for information about what happened to her daughter, said: "I think it is a pathetic thing to do.

"What can they possibly get out of taking those signs?

"Our family is desperate to find out what happened to Jane and those signs are there to help trigger someone's memory about the incident."

Jane has now come off life support and is recovering in Burnley General Hospital.

Sgt Russ Gregory, from the road policing unit at Colne, said: "The theft of these signs is callous. They are put there for the benefit of members of the public who are involved in road traffic collisions to trigger people's memories.

"They can be a very effective way of getting information about specific incidents and it annoys me when people go out and steal them.

"This poor lady nearly died and we are trying to find out who did it."

Police are still appealing for witnesses to this incident and anyone with information can telephone Nelson CID on 01282 472643, Burnley Police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.