WORRIED residents have stepped up their campaign for greater speed restrictions outside their homes after a four-year-old boy was hurt at the weekend.

Conner Hirst spent a night in hospital after he collided with a car on Wellhouse Street, in Barnoldswick, on Saturday.

He was treated at Burnley General Hospital for a head injury and cuts and bruises.

Now his mother Sara, 21, is calling for a 20mph speed limit and speed bumps on the 30mph street.

She said residents had been campaigning for months for greater speed restrictions on the road, which is used as a "rat run" between Rainhall Road and Wellhouse Road.

Sara said that she and her husband Chris, 23, realised there was a problem with the traffic when they moved into their home in Wellhouse Street last October.

Sara, who has another son, Peter, aged 17 months, said at least 20 children lived on the street.

"It's a short cut between two of the main roads in the town. It's a rat run for factory workers and boy racers.

"Some people drive like hooligans," she added.

"It's a really wide street and they fly along at up to 50mph. You can hear them screeching to a halt at the end."

Sara said Saturday's accident occurred after Conner ran out from the yard at their home into the street, between two parked vehicles.

Fortunately, he ran into the path of a "sensible" driver who was within the speed limit.

Sara said another boy was in collision with a vehicle on the street a few years ago.

She added that the traffic menace had become worse after speed bumps were introduced on nearby Bank Street, encouraging drivers to use Wellhouse Street instead.

Sara said speed bumps and 20mph restrictions had also been introduced on the Coates Estate in the town.

"There are loads of people concerned about this," she added.

Colin Badminton, highways and transport manager for Pendle Council, said the authority would like to see 20mph zones introduced in all its residential areas.

Wellhouse Street was on a list drawn up by the West Craven Area Committee which had been submitted to Lancashire County Council for consideration, he added.

The committee would like the scheme implemented, but it depended on finance from the county.

The street had not been designated a top priority and was not in line for funding at present, said Mr Badminton.