ONE of Britain’s top fell runners has suffered a fractured spine after being hit by a car while out running in Bolton.

International runner Lindsey Brindle is recovering in hospital after she was hit by a Volkswagen Fox in Chorley New Road, near to Bolton Golf Club at 8am on Wednesday morning.

The mum-of-two was on her way to work and was doing her final training run ahead of this weekend’s Three Peaks Challenge in Yorkshire when the accident occurred.

She was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where it was discovered she had fractured her lower spine and is now awaiting the results of further tests.

The 36-year-old lives in Horwich with husband Tom and daughters Gracie, aged 11 and five-year-old Chloe.

A runner for Horwich RMI Harriers, Mrs Brindle won her first international call-up last year when she helped Team GB to victory in the Staffeta 3 Rifugi Mountain Race in Italy.

The year before she was named the UK’s Queen of the Mountains, after accumulating the best times for running up Ben Nevis, Snowden and Scafell pike.

She was in good form heading into this weekend’s Three Peaks challenge, which she will now miss, after winning the Rivington Pike Fell Race at the start of the month.

Her sister, Tracey Upshall said the family are devastated at what has happened, but grateful that she is still alive.

She said: “We are all so upset at what has happened but we are thanking the lord that Lindsey is still with us, because it could have been so much worse.

“She is in a lot of pain at the moment and is just waiting for the results of the scans she has had.

“She is devastated to be missing the Three Peaks Challenge because she has been training so hard for it — this was her final training run.”

Woman hit by car on Chorley New Road, Horwich

Mrs Upshall said her family are immensely proud of everything she has achieved in her running career.

She added: “When she won her international call-up we were all so happy — we know it is going to be a long road to recovery for her but we will be with her every step of the way.”

The Horwich RMI Harriers team has passed on its best wishes to their popular club member.

Chairman Pete Ramsdale said: “Lindsey is a great role model at the club and regularly helps the younger runners — she was only handing out medals to the juniors at a presentation evening last week.

“She is something of a local celebrity having run for her country and has been on top form recently.

“We know how hard she had been training for the Three Peaks challenge and it is terrible that this has happened.”

He added: “On behalf of the club I would like to wish Lindsey all the best for a speedy recovery and a return to running soon.”