AN ACCRINGTON youngster who was "engulfed in flames" while playing with a petrol-driven toy car is on the mend after a second painful skin graft operation was hailed a success.

Nine-year-old Dillon Cawley, of Corporation Street, suffered 20 per cent burns to his stomach, hands and a leg in the incident, which happened outside his home.

His mother, Helen, 37, said the injuries were so bad that she thought Dillon may have to spend Christmas in hospital

But after the successful operations at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, she is now confident that her son could soon be at home with the family.

The Hyndburn Park School pupil suffered the worst injuries on his chest in the incident two weeks ago and last week he had skin removed from his legs and grafted on to his body.

He has now had skin grafted on to his hands and is beginning to get out of bed and move around his hospital room.

Helen, who gave birth to her eighth child, Candice, just days before the accident, said: "He is getting stronger every day and he is now starting to talk more.

"For the last two weeks he has been on morphine for 24 hours a day but he is now on less medication.

"He is very angry about what happened and upset that he is so poorly. He is in agony and it is so distressing for us to see but the nurses are fantastic with him."

Dillon's accident happened when petrol was poured on to a toy car, set alight and kicked at him, setting fire to his clothes.

His mother added: "Now Dillon is getting better I will be meeting police to make sure that an officer goes to the hospital to talk to Dillon about what happened because this was not an accident.

"He is such a happy child and a strong character that he will get through it. He will be all right.

"My kids will not be going out on Bonfire Night and I am going to put up a picture of Dillon in his bandages in the house so the other children can see what damage fire can do."

Police are investigating the circumstances of the blaze.