A WHITE van was driven off after waiting for an injured boy to drag his mangled mountain bike from beneath the vehicle following an accident in Burnley.

Twelve-year-old Karl Peel was left at the roadside suffering from cuts and bruises and unable to even wheel his wrecked machine back home.

He was helped home by another motorist.

A police appeal for witnesses is being supported by Karl's parents, Tim and Linda Peel of Stanbury Drive, Burnley.

Linda said: "We are appealing for anyone who saw a white P-registered Ford Transit type van which had been parked in Oaken Bank to get in touch with the police."

Tim, a printer, said the callous driver waited for Karl to clear his mountain bike from under the van before driving off up Stanbury Drive.

He said: "Karl suffered cuts and bruises and was badly shaken.

"The van wing mirror struck him across the face. But he was most upset that the driver should just go off like that."

Karl is a keen mountain biker and was training for a new season of races.

The incident happened at 3pm on Sunday in Briercliffe Road near the junction with Stanbury Drive.

Karl suffered a cut to his stomach and knee. He did not go to hospital and was treated at home by his parents, Tim and Linda.

Karl is a pupil at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, Waterfoot, and turned up for classes on Monday.

Tim said: "We got a call from school saying he was not really fit to be there. We took him to casualty at Burnley where they thought his collar bone was broken. It turned out that it was badly bruised."