ONE of the girls seriously injured in a car accident a week ago has returned to school — but her best friend remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Charlotte Amadi, aged 10, was knocked down with her friend Lucy Harris, aged eight, at about 11am on Thursday in Wigan Road, Hunger Hill, close to the roundabout at Junction 5 of the M61.

Both girls, who live just doors apart in nearby Doyle Road, were airlifted to Manchester Children's Hospital where Lucy is being treated.

Charlotte's mother Sarah and father Acho are relieved to have the eldest of their four children back at home.

Mrs Amadi said: "Apart from her right arm, you wouldn't know she had been in an accident. But her right arm was dislocated. She broke her wrist in two places and three pins have been placed in her arm. She had an open wound on her leg and they had to take four teeth out as well."

Charlotte spent four days in hospital and was discharged on Monday.

She and Lucy attend St Mary's Church of England Primary School in Deane and yesterday was Charlotte's first day back at school for the new academic year.

Charlotte's parents understand the friends were returning from a trip to the local shop when they were struck by a blue Honda Civic.

The terrible news soon reached the victims' families by word of mouth.

Mrs Amadi said: "I was told by a little girl who was with them at the time. She said Charlotte had been run over and couldn't move her legs.

"We're Christian and the first thing I did when I got there is tell Charlotte she'd been baptised and is a child of God.

"Our pastor came from the church and prayed over her. I told her she was going to be OK because she had God and he had protected her.

"She didn't really mention Lucy because she didn't know what had happened to her friend but now she's asking after her because she knows.

"We're thankful God helped her and we're praying for Lucy. I've been racking my brain since the accident. Charlotte would never cross the road without using the traffic lights. She would always use the pedestrian crossing."

The Amadi family, who worship at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Bolton, have begun fundraising for North West Air Ambulance to show their gratitude.

So far they have collected more than £111 of their £1,000 goal.

Mrs Amadi said: "We really appreciate the fact that the air ambulance came so quickly. They rely on volunteers and donations."

In the wake of last week's accident — and three earlier fatal collisions at about the same spot — an online petition was set up by concerned members of the Hunger Hill Action Group page on Facebook.

Their aim is to get the speed limit reduced on the stretch of Wigan Road from 40mph to 30mph although speed has not been cited as a factor in this latest case and the driver was not arrested. Lucy suffered serious head injuries in the crash and her condition remains unclear.

Urging locals to sign, the petition says: "Lucy, the younger of the two, aged eight, sustained life threatening injuries including a fractured skull and swelling on her brain and skin loss on her legs. This strong little girl is fighting hard."

Lucy’s parents Sharon and Dave posted on the action group page on Monday: “The neurosurgeons assessed the MRI scan she had last night and the swelling on her brain has reduced. She now has free space around her brain and the hematoma has stopped so they have stopped her medication which has kept her paralysed and have also reduced the ventilator so she is now making effort to breathe herself.

“If everything goes to plan she should start to wake up. Thank you all for the support and kind wishes.”

* Donate to the Amadi family fund for the North West Air Ambulance at www.justgiving.com/sarahamadi