A BOY who suffered head injuries in a road accident was recovering in a hospital intensive care unit today.

At first doctors believed nine-year-old Ricky Lawless had not been seriously injured when he was knocked down by a car in Gannow Lane, Burnley.

But his condition quickly worsened and worried doctors transferred him to the intensive care unit at Pendlebury Children's Hospital, Manchester.

Today police said Ricky, of Wordsworth Street, Burnley, had made a recovery overnight and his condition was much improved. His mum Ann said: "The driver wasn't at fault. It was just an accident. But there are some that go tearing down there."

"There's a hell of a lot of traffic that uses the road and there are cars parked on both sides. People have asked the council for speed ramps."

Ricky, a pupil at Ightenhill Primary School, lives with his mum, dad Stephen and 13-year-old sister Kerrie.

He was hit by a Ford Fiesta car as he ran across the road.

The driver, Martin Richardson, 23, of Sycamore Avenue, Burnley, was unhurt.

Ricky was sedated at Burnley General Hospital to relieve the pressure inside his head, and he was brought round last night at Manchester.

His mum added: "We're hoping that he'll be moved back to Burnley soon and he might be home again by the end of the week."

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