THE family of a mother-of-four who was crushed by a forklift truck was today waiting to hear whether she will pull through her ordeal after a seven-hour operation.

Barbara Rostron, 47, of Surrey Road, Blackburn, suffered serious injuries to her lower body including her abdomen and legs after the accident at Pets Choice Ltd, in Gladstone Street, yesterday morning. She remains in the high dependency unit at Queens Park Hospital where her condition is described as critical but stable.

She has worked as a packer at the warehouse, where her youngest son Shaun also works, for around three years and had been on nights for seven months.

One of three sons, 20-year-old Wayne, said all they could do was wait now for news from the hospital.

He said: "We all went to the hospital when we heard and they told us she was seriously ill and may not make it. I am just waiting for a call from my dad who is with her but it is the not knowing that's worse.

"She was in theatre seven hours because she has abdominal bleeding, her hip's broken and she's got a big slash across her lower body. We don't know what's going to happen yet. My youngest brother works at Pets Choice as well and he was due to start at 6am yesterday but he didn't end up going in."

Mrs Rostron has three sons, Michael, 24; Wayne, 20; Shaun, 18, and a daughter, Michelle 16. She has always lived in Blackburn and was formerly a dinner lady at Queen's Park High School. She has been married to Michael for 19 years.

Detective Inspector Jim Elston, of Blackburn CID, said: "They are a very close knit family and have got a good support network. They are also being supported by a specially trained officer. They are obviously devastated."

Police and the Health and Safety Executive have launched inquiries into the incident in which she was trapped behind a forklift truck that reversed into her but early inquiries have shown it was simply an accident.

Inspector Stuart Bruce said: "She came out of surgery at 3pm and is now on the high dependency unit.

"We have spoken to all the relevant witnesses and it does appear it was an accident."