A SCHOOLBOY is recovering after he was pinned to a wall by a runaway car.

Karl Dixon, 12, of Bracken Close, Stanley, was trapped when the vehicle, a Volvo, rolled down a bank.

He was playing with two friends, James and Daniel Hadley, when the accident happened on Rose Avenue, in South Moor, at 7.30pm, on Monday.

The Stanley College of Technology pupil was cut free by firefighters after a 30-minute ordeal.

Karl said: "I was walking past it and my friends shouted at me to move. I jumped out the way but it turned towards me and hit me.

"I was on the ground in pain but I wasn't scared. I want to thank everyone who helped get me out."

Residents fetched his father Kenneth, 38, who was with his son while firemen freed him.

He said: "If the car had not hit the bollard it would have been worse. It could have taken his leg off because of the way it was sticking out. He has been very lucky."

Karl was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham with two broken bones in his pelvis. He also has a swollen thigh and severe bruising.

Doctors hoped he would be walking on crutches by Wednesday. They estimate it will take six weeks for him to recover.

Mum Melanie, 35, has already replaced the Reebok tracksuit bottoms that had to be cut off to free Karl.

She was working at Asda in Stanley when police informed her that her son was trapped.

"I was devastated when they told me. I was hysterical and upset," she said.

"When I got there he was in a bit of pain but mainly in shock.

"He mainly seemed bothered about the state of the tracksuit bottoms he got for his birthday. He is a lovely lad and is always making jokes."

Police are investigating how the car rolled down the bank. A spokesman said: "It has been reported to us and we will be taking a statement from the owner in due course."