A RANGE Rover almost ran over a near-naked toddler after she fell on her face in front of it on a busy main road.

Burnley magistrates heard how all traffic stopped as a three-year-old toddler ran after her and tried to pick up the one-year-old. Both youngsters, who were holding matches, were grubby like " Oliver Twist-type street urchins," and the little girl, who clung to a police officer called to the scene, was later found to have severe nappy rash and ringworm.

Christine Topping, 47, of Rostron Buildings, Rawtenstall, who was found collapsed drunk, had earlier admitted two counts of child cruelty in March and one of failing to surrender to custody.

She was bailed until October 12, to live and sleep at Accrington bail hostel.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said a man was driving home on the main road between Bacup and Rawtenstall and he saw what at first he thought were two dogs running into the road.

He then realised they were two small children and one, the little girl fell on her face in front of a Range Rover which had to take action to avoid hitting her.

The boy ran after her and the motorist stopped and went to pick the baby up. She was bleeding from the mouth and nose and had a bump on her forehead.

Both the children were dirty, had nothing on their feet, were holding matches and looked like they had not been washed for some time.

The motorist rang the police and he and others stayed with the youngsters until officers arrived.

Police later went to a house and found Topping face down and collapsed. She smelled heavily of drink and would not respond.

She refused to go to hospital and a police officer went in the ambulance to Bury General Hospital where the children were examined by a paediatrician. The girl clung to the officer and the boy was cold and hungry.

The house where Topping was found had dog dirt on the floor and piles of unwashed clothing littered about.

She was unaware of what had happened, told police she had taken diazepam, had had a drink and had been depressed. Topping told officers she knew what she had done was wrong, and she could not forgive herself for it.

Bill Rawstron, defending, said the offences were not deliberate acts of cruelty. Topping was socially and emotionally inadequate, had a colossal drink problem and was in need of help.