A MUM is demanding tighter safety measures at town centre fairgrounds after her daughter was hit in the face by a children's ride.

Whitney Williams, aged 11, was kept in hospital overnight with a suspected fractured cheekbone and bruising after the accident on Bolton's Victoria Square.

The Deane School pupil was at the Christmas lights switch-on last Thursday with friends and was waiting beside the Paratrooper children's ride while a pal went on it.

As one of the cars came round, it swung out and hit Whitney full in the face, sending her flying to the ground.

Her mother, Deborah Kitchen, says she was horrified when she was told there were no barriers around the ride and no one was allegedly keeping spectators at a safe distance.

"If it had hit her two inches either way it would have killed her," said Mrs Kitchen.

Whitney got back on her feet immediately but as she walked away from the ride she collapsed and started to lose consciousness.

Friends took her to a cafe in the Market Hall where staff summoned an ambulance.

"She didn't know who I was or where she was when I got to the Royal Bolton Hospital," said Mrs Kitchen.

Whitney was kept in hospital overnight with a suspected fractured cheekbone and badly bruised face and shoulder. She was allowed home to Queens Road, Daubhill, the following day.

Mrs Kitchen is calling for barriers to be put around all town centre rides to keep spectators at a safe distance.

The incident has been reported to Bolton Council's health and safety department who are investigating the accident.

Fairground operator David Holland, speaking from his home in Atherton, said: "All I remember is three girls standing around chatting and larking about.

"I hadn't realised anything had happened and didn't see anything. It's a slow kiddies ride for five to 10 year-olds. Barriers are not normally needed around this type of ride." A MUM is demanding tighter safety measures at town centre fairgrounds after her daughter was hit in the face by a children's ride.

Whitney Williams, aged 11, was kept in hospital overnight with a suspected fractured cheekbone and bruising after the accident on Bolton's Victoria Square.

The Deane School pupil was at the Christmas lights switch-on last Thursday with friends and was waiting beside the Paratrooper children's ride while a pal went on it.

As one of the cars came round, it swung out and hit Whitney full in the face, sending her flying to the ground.

Her mother, Deborah Kitchen, says she was horrified when she was told there were no barriers around the ride and no one was allegedly keeping spectators at a safe distance.

"If it had hit her two inches either way it would have killed her," said Mrs Kitchen.

Whitney got back on her feet immediately but as she walked away from the ride she collapsed and started to lose consciousness.

Friends took her to a cafe in the Market Hall where staff summoned an ambulance.

"She didn't know who I was or where she was when I got to the Royal Bolton Hospital," said Mrs Kitchen.

Whitney was kept in hospital overnight with a suspected fractured cheekbone and badly bruised face and shoulder. She was allowed home to Queens Road, Daubhill, the following day.

Mrs Kitchen is calling for barriers to be put around all town centre rides to keep spectators at a safe distance.

The incident has been reported to Bolton Council's health and safety department who are investigating the accident.

Fairground operator David Holland, speaking from his home in Atherton, said: "All I remember is three girls standing around chatting and larking about.

"I hadn't realised anything had happened and didn't see anything. It's a slow kiddies ride for five to 10 year-olds. Barriers are not normally needed around this type of ride."