A MOTHER has thanked the lifesavers who came to the rescue of her little boy when he was knocked over by a minibus.

Harvey Herron was airlifted to hospital with suspected head injuries after he was hit while trying to cross the road at Rushyford, County Durham, last Wednesday afternoon.

Scans revealed that the five-year-old had escaped with only cuts and bruises and he is now recovering at home in Chilton.

Mam Chantelle Oughton said: "It was the worst day of my life, really scary.

"Now he's home and doing well I want to thank the air ambulance and emergency services, they don't get enough credit."

Harvey had been playing on his bike near home when he ventured a bit too far and ended up beside the A167 Chilton bypass.

Miss Oughton said: "They were playing in each other's gardens, I turned my back for second and he was gone. I was looking around the street for him when his little friend came up on his bike and said he'd been knocked over and I ran straight there."

The youngster had crossed the road once but as he returned to his friend was hit by a 16-seater travelling towards Ferryhill.

When Miss Oughton and her other son Keaton, eight, arrived at the scene a police officer was laid on the road with Harvey.

The 27-year-old, who runs an ironing and cleaning business, said: "The officer had turned round after driving past and seeing them on the side of the road just before it happened and was now laid on the floor cuddling him, to keep him calm and still.

"I can't explain how I felt, I could see traffic had stopped and people were coming to see what was happening and we just laid with him.

"An ambulance and air ambulance came and Keaton and I went in the helicopter with him to Newcastle RVI, they were brilliant and had him there in ten minutes.

"I was warned it was a red alert at hospital and would look scary, there were 16 people in different uniforms around him. He was taken off for a scan and they came back 20 minutes later and said he's be okay, there was nothing life-threatening.

"It was such a relief."

Harvey, who like Keaton is a pupil at Chilton Academy, chipped a bone in his shoulder and has cuts and bruises but was able to go home the next day.

A family day and disco at Chilton and Windlestone WMC on Friday, August 24 will now be held in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). And next month the family will meet the air ambulance crew at Durham Tees Valley Airport to thank them in person.

A GNAAS spokesman said: "We were pleased to be able to help and are delighted to hear Harvey is making a good recovery. We look forward to seeing him and showing him round the helicopter."