FRIENDS of David Crossley are rallying round their pal as he fights for his life after a horrific accident in a graveyard.

Money has poured into a fund set up by Alison Walker and Lisa Horrocks, of Stoops and Hargher Clough Community Centre in Burnley, and they have already bought the football fan a Manchester United strip.

Alison said doctors were going to take nine-year-old David off the machine yesterday to see if he could cope on his own.

His eyes have already flickered and doctors were due to reassess the situation today.

Alison said: "All he ever wants are things to do with Manchester United and his family haven't been able to get him a kit so we decided to buy him one. "It will be taken to his hospital bedside and we are appealing for anyone who has any memorabilia of Manchester United to hand it in to the centre so we can decorate his room.

"We just wanted to do something for David because we are all so deeply shocked by what has happened."

David was playing with his friends when he was crushed under a quarter-ton gravestone. Three men rushed to his aid and lifted the stone off him, but he had stopped breathing.

David's step-brother Darren tried bring him back from the dead by giving him the kiss of life and Margaret Meeks, who was attending her sister's grave, massaged his heart. Paramedics took David to Burnley General Hospital and he was transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where his parents Jack and Jean, of Cog Lane, are at his bedside. He remains "critical" today.

Alison said: "Everyone who knows David loves him he is a very likeable little boy.

"He plays for the local West End football team and is goal keeper for his school Hargher Clough and he is often in the community centre.

"The appeal started off with just a few pounds but it has really taken off and in just two days we had more than £100. My little boy is David's best friend so I can understand just what his parents are going through."

Alison said the community centre, in association with Hargher Clough School, was setting up counselling sessions for the five boys who were playing with David when the accident happened.

Anyone who has any Manchester United items they would like to give to David can call in at the centre on Venice Street between 10am and 4pm.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.