A RELIEVED mum today spoke of the moment when her four-year-old was knocked down while running across a busy main road to go to a shop.

Adam Hindle was following his sister Holly, seven, who had crossed Burnley Road in Brierfield safely.

He he was struck by a Ford Escort driven by Terence Mansfield, 67, of Furness Street, Burnley.

His mum Debbie Cole, of Burnley Road, said: "His face is a mess and he has a black eye, swollen face and grazes. I think he was hit by the wing mirror and there were some tyre marks on his trousers.

"He managed to pick himself up and came running into the house screaming to get me.

"His nose was bleeding and he had been hit on the side of his head and it was becoming swollen, he was in shock more than anything."

Adam was taken to Burnley General Hospital after the accident, at 6.10pm on Saturday, and allowed home after treatment for cuts and bruises.

Debbie said: "He was very lucky. If he had been hit by the front of the car it doesn't bear thinking about."

Police said Adam had run out into the path of the car. Mr Mansfield was not injured.