A SOLDIER who was thrown from his car when it crashed on the M65 remains in hospital.

Thomas Oliver, 20, a private in the Royal Engineers, is stable in intensive care at Burnley General Hospital.

Thomas, who is known to his friends as Tucker, was making his way home from his Army base in Reading on Friday night when the accident happened.

His mum, Kathleen, dad Tom and three sisters Rosie, 26, Libby, 24, and Catherine, 19, have all been at his bedside since the accident praying for his recovery.

Libby, who lives in Calder Street, Nelson, where Thomas was brought up, said doctors were hoping to take him off the life support machine in the next couple of days.

The former Fisher More High School pupil is due to have his 21st birthday in three weeks, which his family are hoping he will be well enough to celebrate.

Libby said: "We are hoping doctors will be able to bring him round. He has been showing good signs by moving his legs and arms so we are hoping that when he does come round he will be OK.

"It is only when Thomas comes round that doctors will be able to asses the extent of his injuries and find out if there has been any permanent damage."

He was just five minutes away from home after the accident happened, which didn't involve any other vehicles.