A THREE-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being run over by a van driven by his father.

Police believe Callum Heaton may have been climbing on the bull bars at the front of the vehicle when his dad Andrew set off unaware from outside their home in Griffin Close, Burnley.

Mr Heaton did a three-point turn and had driven only about 20 yards down Griffin Close towards Accrington Road when a car driver sounded his horn and indicated that a child was lying in the road. Mr Heaton got out of his blue Transit van and found his son suffering from head and back injuries.

Callum was treated by paramedics who took him to Burnley General Hospital. He was later transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury where his family were keeping a bedside vigil today.

PC David Horsfall, who is carrying out inquiries into the accident, said: "Callum has had a stable night but is still on a ventilator." Hospital staff were hoping to take him off the machine today.

The accident happened at 1.35pm yesterday and police are appealing for witnesses.

They especially want to speak to the driver of a light blue saloon, possibly a Nissan, who pipped his horn to alert Mr Heaton of the accident.

PC Horsfall said: "Callum is only a small three-year-old. It is thought he had been playing by the van and may possibly have been riding on the bumper bar before falling off.

"Mr Heaton is obviously badly shocked by what happened and we can only hope that Callum makes a good recovery.''

Police inquiries are continuing and any witness to the incident is asked to contact police on 01282 472186.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.