A Blackburn school's club is fundraising after a motorcycle accident in Thailand left an ice hockey player in a critical condition.

Friends and family of former Bradford Bulldogs defenceman Josh Richardson are rallying round to raise as much money as possible for the 24-year-old.

Josh, who grew up in Blackburn, is in an intensive care unit in a Bangkok hospital and has undergone treatment, including several operations, for the serious head injuries he sustained in the accident, which happened in the early hours of Friday, February 3.

His parents Susan and Jim have flown out to be by his side while, back home, friends, including an afterschool club in Blackburn, have started doing what they can to help.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help cover the cost of the additional medical treatment he will require out in Thailand, while a Kicking Out of School Holiday Club has organised a fundraising Easter raffle.

Josh’s mum, Susan, said: “It was such terrible news when we heard what had happened.

“He is in a bad way and we flew out there to be with him as soon as we could.

“We’re not sure what’s going to happen and we’re so grateful for everything that people are doing back home - it means such a lot to our family.”

A spokesperson for Kicking Out of School said: “We are doing a fundraiser for a young man who used to attend our club when he was a pupil at Feniscowles Primary School.

"There are two large selections of Easter eggs and also four days free childcare over the Easter holidays up for grabs. Please help us raise some funds for Josh, £2 per strip.”

Having initially started out with hometown team Blackburn Juniors, Josh then played in Sheffield for a season before joining Bradford in 2013, aged 15.

Josh made the move across to Bradford when he was 15. The defenceman has spent the majority of his career in West Yorkshire, spending a couple of seasons on a two-way with Deeside.

After playing solely with the Bulldogs from 2018-22 he made the move full-time up to the NIHL One North Dragons last summer.

He works for NHS Direct in Leeds as a Higher Information Analyst having also studied for a BScBusiness Analytics University of Leeds between 2017 to 2021.

Joanne Gibson, Bradford Bulldogs NIHL’s team manager has set up a Go Fund Me page to help with the costs of Josh’s medical expenses and you can donate here.