A 12-YEAR-OLD boy is fighting for his life after he was hit by a "racing" car in a horror smash which left 10 others injured.

The crash happened as hundreds of people were making their way home from a mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, leaving a scene of carnage in St Helens Road, Daubhill, at 11.30pm on Sunday.

Police said two Vauxhall Astras had been racing in St Helens Road at speeds of up to 60mph before crashing into a BMW 320 that had pulled into the road.

The force of the crash knocked one of the Astras off the road, where it hit the the boy and a 51-year-old father.

The boy, believed to be from Mancroft Avenue, is still in a critical condition and the older man is in a stable condition in hospital.

People on Twitter have been offering duas (prayers) for Raheem Hussain, believed to be the name of the injured boy.

Nine other people from the three cars suffered minor injuries.

A 20-year-old driver of one of the Astras is still being treated in hospital, while the other walked away from the scene after being treated by paramedics.

Sgt Danny Byrne, from GMP’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “We have officers with the young boy’s family and our thoughts are with them at what is obviously an extremely worrying time.

“The fact that they are waiting to hear whether their beloved 12-year-old boy will survive reflects that absolute appalling consequences of driving in such a reckless manner.

“The area was very busy with people leaving the mosque following evening prayers and we believe the two cars initially involved were speeding and most likely racing one another.

“I want to reassure all those that were present last night, and the wider community, that officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit will be conducting a thorough investigation into this incident.”

No-one was trapped in the three cars and firefighters helped paramedics treat six of the injured people.

Debris from the crash was spread over several yards of St Helens Road.

Watch Manager Dave Holden, from Bolton Central fire station, said: “One of the Astras was on its side.”

Firefighters remained on the scene until after 1am on Monday. The road was cordoned off and remained shut to traffic early yesterday morning.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said seven ambulances and two rapid response vehicles were sent to the scene, the first arriving within six minutes.

The spokesman added that the 12-year-old boy was taken to Manchester Children’s Hospital and the 51-year-old man to Salford Royal Hospital. One man was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital and two casualties were taken to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan.

Six other people had minor injuries, but either refused hospital treatment or made their own way there.

As many as 200 local people were in the area at the time having just left nearby mosques.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4741.