TWO mothers today spoke of how two of their children were lucky to be alive after a pile of scaffolding came crashing down on them.

Seven-year-old Abigail Bannister (pictured) was trapped beneath the rubble and had to be pulled out.

Sam Houghton, four, was hit on the head by a piece of scaffolding.

Abigail, who attends St Mary's RC Primary School, Oswaldtwistle, suffered a hairline fracture to the base of her skull, a punctured lung, a broken rib, internal and external bruising, a cracked pelvis, bruising on her face and chipped teeth.

Sam, needed 10 stitches to his forehead and was badly bruised.

Both children live in Orchard Drive, Oswaldtwistle.

Abigail's mum, Linda, 35, who is married to Mark, 39, and has a son Damian, 13, said: "Abigail was lucky to get out of that alive. She should not have been playing there, but I don't know how on earth she has come out of it.

"If it had all fallen on Sam it could have killed him because he is only four." Abigail and Sam were playing in some sand near the scaffolding which was up against a houses on a new estate in Apple Tree Way, Oswaldtwistle, when the accident happened at about 6.50pm on Saturday.

They were both taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Linda added: "Sam and Abigail were playing and Abigail sat down because she had hurt her foot and the whole lot fell on top of her.

"Sam got smacked in his head but Abigail was crushed beneath it all. Her face is very bad because it took a lot of the force and she has two black eyes.

"She is still very sore and is on a drip but hopefully she is through the worst. She is a bit confused but is a lot better."

Sam's mother, Alison Houghton, 35, who is married to Graeme, 36, wept as she saw Sam with blood pouring down his head and face.

She said: "They have both been very, very lucky.

"Sam's wound on his head went right down to the bone.

"It is really sad that little children have gone out to play and this has happened to them. I don't want this to happen to any other children."

Sam was allowed home yesterday, but Abigail is still in hospital.

Nobody at Fairclough Homes was available to comment.