A SCHOOLBOY has spoken of his ordeal after he was pinned against a wall by a runaway car.

Karl Dixon, 12, who suffered serious leg injuries when the Volvo rolled down a bank, is recovering in hospital.

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

Karl, a pupil at Stanley College of Technology, was cut free by fire fighters after being trapped for 30 minutes.

Karl, of Bracken Close, Stanley, said last night: "I was walking past and my friends shouted at me to move. I tried to jump out of the way, but it 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 alerted Karl's father, Kenneth, 38, who was with his son as firefighters worked to free him.

He said: "If the car had not hit a 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, in Durham City, with two broken bones in his pelvis, has a swollen thigh and severe bruising.

Doctors hope he will be able to walk on crutches today when they will also decide whether he can go home.

They estimate it will take six weeks for him recover.

His mother, Melanie, 35, has already replaced the treasured Reebok tracksuit bottoms that had to be cut away.

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

Mrs Dixon said: "I was devastated when they told me - I was hysterical.

When I got there he was in a bit of pain, but was also in shock. He mainly seemed bothered about the state of the tracksuit bottoms, which 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."