The parents of a three-year-old boy, who is in hospital after colliding with a car, were today keeping a vigil at his bedside.

Little Lakhan Horner-Singh was in collision with a white and red Ford Transit van at 12.18pm on Monday while playing with his brothers and cousins in Back Norwood Avenue, Shipley.

The youngster, of Oswald Street, Shipley, was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary and later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where his condition was described as stable.

Lakhan was conscious after the accident but suffered injuries to his lungs and liver.

His father, Satnam Singh, 33, said the little boy ran into the road because he thought he saw his father approaching with a puppy.

"Lakhan was supposed to go to the cash-and-carry with his uncle but decided to stay and play with his brothers and cousins instead, because he wanted to see the new puppy I bought for the children a few days ago," said Mr Singh.

"Lakhan was so excited to see our puppy, Billy, that when he thought he saw me approaching in my van he ran into the road."

Lakhan's brother, nine-year-old Kassim Shariff, was with him when the accident happened.

He said: "Lakhan was asking for the puppy after the accident, even though he was in pain, because he loves the dog so much".

Pat Hardy, 44, who works at Microcad, a computer hardware and software company in nearby Bradford Road, rushed outside to help Lakhan when she heard the accident.

"The driver and passenger of the car involved were both very distressed," she said. "I told Lakhan's older brother to go inside and get some towels to keep him warm and just held him until the ambulance arrived."

Mrs Hardy has received a thank you card from Lakhan's parents.

His mother, Heather Horner, and father have been by his bedside willing him to get better in time for his fourth birthday on August 18.

Heather, 33, said: "We are going to throw him the biggest party when he gets better. Me and his dad have been telling him about all the bouncy castles and presents he is going to get."

Police appealed for witnesses to ring them on (01535) 617059.