THE MOTHER of a six-year-old boy feels 'extremely lucky' he is still alive after coming within inches of losing his life.

Janet Jones, of Ivy Street, feared little Josh would not survive when he was rushed into intensive care following a serious road accident on Thursday evening.

Josh had been cycling along Heath Road in Runcorn at the junction with Union Street when it is believed he walked out into the middle of the road with his bike and was in collision with a taxi.

The youngster's bike collided with the black Fiat Stilo, which was being driven by a 64-year-old man from Castlefields, at 8.05pm.

He was taken to Warrington General Hospital with head injuries and placed on the danger list before being transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

'Just a split second longer and he would have been dead,' said Janet.

'When I heard he'd been hit by a car, I thought that was it.

'I ran all the way down Ivy Street and saw the ambulance and Josh being put on a stretcher.

'He wasn't unconscious but he wasn't very aware of his surroundings either.

'And when I saw the state the taxi was in afterwards I just felt sick. I couldn't believe it.'

Despite being warned never to go beyond Ivy Street on his bike, Josh had been at a friend's house 40 minutes earlier when he got tempted to go out and play.

Against all the odds, Josh fought back and baffled medical staff when he was discharged from Alder Hey on Monday.

The Victoria Road Primary pupil is now at home - and his first words when he regained consciousness were: 'When am I going back to school?'

Since the accident, Josh has also been lapping up attention from dad Anthony and sisters Kelly, 15, and Amy, 12.

Police are urging witnesses to contact Sergeant Yvonne Williams or PC Rick Hooley on 01244 613928 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.