A YOUNG couple who went to the aid of a seriously injured man have been praised for their quick-thinking.

Tracy Smith, 26, stopped to give first aid to Dennis White after seeing him lying injured near the former Bank Hall Miners Club in Burnley on Tuesday afternoon.

Her boyfriend Michael Carter, 23, chased a man through the Bank Hall sports area.

Tracy shouted to her children John, eight, and Gemma, six, to go to Bank Hall Nursing Home to get an ambulance and the police.

She said: "We had just picked the children up from St Peter's School and were making our way home through the park as we always do.

"When we got to the entrance three girls came rushing out saying there was an old man who needed help.

"We just ran and Michael shouted out: 'Oi!' and a man ran off. Michael gave chase while I went to help him.

"There was such a lot of blood and the injured man kept saying he couldn't see. I kept on speaking to him and asking him questions to keep him talking. "I told him I was with him and an ambulance was coming. I just tried to keep him still until help arrived."

Mr White suffered a suspected fractured jaw, broken nose, broken arm, knee injuries and gashes to the back and side of his head.

Both Tracy and the children have had difficulty sleeping since the incident and Gemma woke up screaming the night it happened.

Tracy said: "Every time I close my eyes I can see his face. I have never seen anything like it and am still shocked by what I saw. I am just so glad he is alive."

Michael lost sight of the man near the former Bank Hall Miners Club and returned to help Tracy look after Mr White.

Police have praised the young couple for their bravery and Mr White's daughters met the young couple personally to thank them for their efforts.

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