A YEAR-LONG inquiry into a fairground accident that left a youngster needing hospital treatment for serious chest injuries has still not been concluded.

And last night, the mother of Stacey Moorhead, 15, who suffered a punctured lung and a fractured collar bone and rib in the incident, demanded to know the reasons for the delay.

Stacey, had been on the Superbob ride at the Headland Carnival, in Hartlepool, last August, when one of its cars broke loose.

She was rushed to the intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Hartlepool, and has had to undergo a number of counselling sessions because of the nightmares she has had since.

Mother Jill Purchon, who lives on the Headland, said: "Although she is slowly getting there, the whole thing has left Stacey scared of using fairgrounds.

"I have been told fairground rides only have to be mechanically tested once every five years . If this is true I would like to know why.

"It makes you wonder how safe these things are. Up until the accident I would quite happily let Stacey go on the rides, but now I am very protective.

"It could have happened at anytime and could have been a lot worse. It has made me a lot more wary, and I now do not allow my two other youngest children to go on big rides."

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began an investigation immediately, and swiftly brought a prohibition order on the fairground ride.

The investigation is still on-going with no conclusion reached yet.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said: "Checks are done annually by a registered inspection body, and the owner is also required to take daily checks on equipment."

This year's Headland Carnival drew to a close yesterday, and Stacey paid a visit with her family, but only to look around the side stalls.

Mrs Purchon said: "I don't think she will ever go back on a fairground ride."

Councillor Kevin Kelly, from Headland Town Council, said: "The incident has not dented the popularity of this year's event, as it is going very well."