A SEVEN-year-old girl was injured after she ran into the path of a car on Barden Lane, Burnley.

Barbara Foster had been playing with pals during her school holiday when she tried to cross Barden Lane near to the junction with Godiva Street at 3.10pm yesterday and was in an accident with a Ford Focus driven by Charles James Wood, 57, of Fountain Street, Nelson.

Insp Steve Baines said: "The child ran into the road from the nearside footpath masked by parked vehicles and into the path of the Ford. The driver braked and skidded but unfortunately collided with child."

She was taken to Burnley General Hospital with serious head and back injuries and is in a stable condition today.

Barbara's mother Catherine, 39, is deaf. She signed: "I don't know what happened. "At the hospital from 4pm to 9pm she wouldn't open her eyes and we didn't know what was wrong. She just wanted to come home.

"She has got bumps and bruises to her head and will be in hospital for three to four days."

Barbara's sister Lynn, 16, who has just started a course at Burnley College, said her sister attended St John's RC Junior School, Thames Avenue.

She said: "My sister loves school but she could still be in hospital when she is due to start back on Monday.

"She is a very lively girl and knowing her she will be playing on the computers on the children's ward, if she can."

Barbara also has two brothers Christopher, 15, and Lee, 12, who both attend St Theodore's High School.

The children's father Michael died 17 months ago after having a heart attack aged 56.