RESIDENTS are uniting to stop motorists speeding along their street after a seven-year-old boy was injured.

Families in Cyprus Street, Darwen, were spurred into action after Jacob Hesmondhalgh suffered head injuries and bruising in the accident. They claim similar accidents have been happening for several years due to parked cars hampering pedestrians' views as they cross into the path of motorists.

A petition will be passed on to Whitehall ward councillors Karimeh and David Foster to hand to Blackburn with Darwen Council. Coun Karimeh Foster said today the council should spend money on reduction measures before a child is killed.

And she has already got the council to set up railings across the entrance to a barrow, where Jacob, like many children before him, ran out blindly into Cyprus Street.

Jacob's mother, Rae Diane, said parked cars had obscured his view and that speed-reduction measures should be installed to give drivers and people crossing the road more time to make a decision.

Rae Diane said that many youngsters used Cyprus Street to reach nearby Ashleigh Primary School, where her children are all pupils.

"We are starting to get a petition together now and we hope for an improvement," she said. "It's really bad along here. Four children have been knocked down here in the past few years.

"I was in the street at the time and heard the crash. I looked and saw him hit the wing of the car and smack the window and fly off into the road. He lost a lot of blood - it was all over the road. I was devastated when I realised it was Jacob. This accident could have been a lot worse."

Coun Karimeh Foster said: "We will try to get the council to spend money here. Will it take someone to be killed before the council takes action?"

Council spokesman Graham Burgess said: "We obviously send our good wishes to the young person injured and hope they make a speedy recovery. Our highways and road safety officers have met with Coun Foster, the police and the community to discuss a package of measures to help improve safety in this area and are due to report back in the next few weeks.

"Work being considered includes a guard-rail at the entrance to the barrow, new road signs by the middle of June, double yellow lines close to the barrow entrance once approved by committee, and more extensive traffic calming which may include a 20mph zone."