NEIGHBOURS of a nine-year-old boy who was knocked down by a bus have spoken of a quiet boy who is always well behaved.

Adam Razaq, of Clarence Street, Darwen, was seriously injured in the accident at 1.25pm on Wednesday.

The youngster was on his way to the swimming baths and had just climbed over an eight-foot wall into Whalley Old Road, Blackburn.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering head injuries and later transferred to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital where he was today said to be stable.

Neighbour Kelly Spinks said she had watched Adam, who is her son's pal, grow up.

"He plays with my son and all the kids in the street. We are absolutely devastated," she said.

"A lot of us are parents and everybody knows everybody.

"I just can't believe it. Out of all the children that would be knocked over he would be the last on my list.

"Adam is not like that, he's a very sensible child. It's just so sad, a tragedy."

Her friend Cheryl Gregson, also a mother, said: "He's so placid. He knocked on my door the other week to tell me he had a new skateboard.

"I can't believe what's happened. Every time I saw a bus today I thought of Adam."

Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said: "He's a lovely little boy, the quietest in the street I would say. You don't hear him screaming, I feel sorry for them."

Michael Morton, managing director of Blackburn Transport, said the company's investigation into the incident was now complete and the driver was back at work.