Doctors are amazed at the progress of a little girl whose foot was crushed in a car accident outside her home, her family revealed today.

Three-year-old Courtney Puttock was run over in Grayswood Crescent, Holme Wood, when she ran across the road to an ice cream van on March 16.

Her right foot was shattered under the car's wheel.

Since then, she has had three operations, including six-hour surgery to rebuild her foot with grafts of flesh and veins from her side. Courtney's parents April and David, who have five children, were worried that she was walking on the side of her foot, which kept swelling up. But they were thrilled by the medic's surprise at her progress at a check-up this week.

Mr Puttock said: "The doctors were gobsmacked but delighted with her healing and physical progress.

"They thought it would be a long time before she would be walking about again.

"She has impressed a lot of people all the way through this and has been brilliant. She has not even cried, either at the time of the accident or since."

Courtney will not have another operation for at least a year now and has reduced her visits to St James's Hospital, Leeds, to every three months.

The family are throwing a birthday party tomorrow for their children who have birthdays about the same time. Courtney will be four on July 15. They have invited the nurse, paramedic and police officer who helped them when the accident happened.

But to prevent further accidents on the road, where more than 100 children live and play, residents want it closed off as a thoroughfare by installing bollards half way along it.

A 400-signature petition was discussed by Bradford South Area Committee yesterday with a view to including it in a road safety works programme.

Mrs Puttock said: "Although Courtney is doing well physically, she won't leave the garden and has become clingy. We just want the Council to see sense and put in a road stop before a child is killed."

Courtney's godmother and neighbour June Black said: "At the weekend, an 18-month-old baby was almost run over by a young lad. If the road wasn't accessible from both ends, there wouldn't be a problem."

l Members of Bradford South Area Committee last night agreed to consider the request to close Grayswood Crescent at a future meeting when they decide which work will be carried out in Bradford Council's minor works and road safety programme.