SCHOOLBOY Joshua Eckersley was still recovering in hospital today after being involved with an accident with a car outside his grandmother's house.

The five-year-old Bolton Wanderers fan suffered a fractured skull during the incident on Ainsworth Avenue, Horwich, on Saturday.

He had been playing with friends when he collided with a car being driven by a 23-year-old man from Bolton.

But now all he wants to do is get home before the Whites big match against Manchester City this weekend.

His mum Jane, aged 29, said: "Joshua is doing very well. He's out of intensive care now and he's stable. He's a very strong boy. All he wants to do is go home."

Joshua, a pupil at Johnson Fold Primary School, was put on a ventilator in intensive care at Pendlebury Children's Hospital after the smash.

But he was placed on a recovery ward yesterday and his mum has been able to push him to the canteen in a wheelchair. His mother, who lives on the Johnson Fold estate, has kept a three-night vigil at her son's bedside since the accident.

Neighbours said that they had seen Joshua playing in the street when he was hit by a Rover.

Mum-of-one Lisa Sutton, who called for an ambulance, said: "It was a terrible thing to see.

"He hit the bonnet and was flung through the air.

"I couldn't sleep that night because I kept thinking about him. I just hope he's okay."

She said neighbours ran to help the youngster, who landed next to his grandparents' car by the side of the road.

The car driver who gave his details to the police has now been questioned.

But officers say independent witnesses confirmed he was not to blame for the accident.