"TOMBOY" Samantha Wood is recovering in hospital today after plunging 12ft from a sewage pipe into a Bolton brook. And today her mum urged parents to keep their children away from the dangerous unofficial play area.

Lynn Wood feared her 11-year-old daughter was dead when she saw her lying motionless covered in blood yesterday afternoon.

As Samantha recovered in Bolton General Hospital today Mrs Wood warned other children to stay away from the sewage pipe in Sharples Vale, located between Halliwell Road and Blackburn Road.

Samantha was enjoying a half-term game with her friend Nicola Pardon in the area over Astley Brook known locally as The Mop when she slipped on the pipe and plunged into the shallow river.

Nicola, 13, raised the alarm and Mrs Wood came rushing from her Halliwell Road home to see family friend Frank Hanley helping paramedics rescue Sharples School pupil Samantha.

Mrs Wood, aged 38, said: "It was horrible. I really thought she was dead. If she had been face down she could have even drowned.

"Only the other day I'd told her to stay away from water. But she's a tomboy and we've just moved here, so she keeps exploring."

Samantha suffered a fractured right wrist and cuts on her forehead. She was in a comfortable condition today.

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