A YOUNG boy suffered a serious neck injury while copying professional wrestling action seen on television .

His mother, Mrs Andrea Astley, of Pleasant View, Withnell, watched in horror as her eight-year-old son, Shaun, writhed in agony after a wrestling game went seriously wrong.

Now Mrs Astley has warned about the danger to young children of copying their heroes on Sky TV's wrestling action.

The boys had been playing on a mattress when Shaun rolled off and his friend jumped on him and caught him in a 'neck crunch'.

"My daughter Jeannine came running down stairs saying 'I heard his neck crack'. I was frantic with worry," said the mother-of-two.

Shaun was treated at the Royal Preston Hospital where, after being x-rayed, it became clear he had fractured his neck.

Andrea, 30, said: "We invited Jamie to stay over as a treat for the school holidays. The pair had been arguing over Pokemon cards, it was clear they were tired, so I sent them to bed.

"We only moved in last week and the beds haven't been set up yet and I suppose they thought the mattress was a toy."

Shaun, a pupil at Abbey Village Primary School, has been told to take it easy for two weeks. He has to wear a collar and will probably need physiotherapy to help him make a full recovery.

Andrea added: "I know you can't watch your children all the time, but parents must stress how dangerous wrestling can be, it isn't a game. Shaun could have been injured for life."

Liz Yates, directorate manager of the Accident and Emergency Department at Chorley Hospital, said: "We are concerned that children may try to copy some of these wrestlers' techniques. It's all right for professional wrestlers who are trained athletes and know what they are doing.

"But children don't understand that if you fall awkwardly you could twist or break a limb, suffer concussion or possibly a serious injury. I think it is very important that parents point out these dangers to their children and if necessary stop them playing in this way."