A YOUNG girl has died in hospital six days after an accident with a car as she walked home from playing in a park.

The family of 10-year-old Shaista Aslam, of Milton Street, Nelson, kept a 24-hour vigil at her bedside after she suffered serious head, leg and internal injuries in the accident just yards from her home a week ago.

Shaista, a pupil at Lomeshaye Junior School, Nelson, died of her injuries in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at 11.30am yesterday. A funeral service will take place tonight at a local mosque before Shaista's body is flown to Pakistan for burial.

Today her devastated father, Mohammed Aslam, said: "She was the youngest member of the family and very much loved. Everyone is very upset.

"We were at her bedside 24 hours a day while she was in hospital and we only came home yesterday."

Shaista was in collision with a Mitsubishi Space Wagon as she crossed Carr Road, Nelson, with her mother Aziza and niece Henna. The youngsters had been playing in Victoria Park.

Shaista, who was looking forward to starting high school in the autumn, was taken to Burnley General Hospital and then transferred to Manchester.

The family have two sons, Imran and Irfan and two other daughters, Nazia and Shagufta.

The Mitsubishi driver, Shafqat Hussain, 28, of Manchester Road, Nelson, was unhurt.

Police said inquiries into the accident were continuing.

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