TWO girls are improving in hospital after they suffered serious injuries when they were knocked down by a taxi.

Sisters Humera and Rabia Waqar, aged 12 and three respectively, were walking across Blackburn Road, Accrington, when they were hit by a Nissan Serena, which was being driven towards Church.

Humera, who attends Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, was celebrating her birthday and had been on an errand to a shop near Percival Street with her sister.

Paramedics rushed the girls, who were both unconscious and suffering from serious head injuries, to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

They were later transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.

Police closed the road for two hours while an accident investigation was carried out.

Rabia was today (Thursday) said to be "conscious and talking" and her sister, who was very poorly on Wednesday, is now stable.

PC Aidan Broughton, who is helping the family come to terms with the incident, said: "We are grateful that the girls seem to be improving. The family are keeping a bedside vigil and all their thoughts are with their children."

Police are now appealing for any witnesses who saw the accident on Tuesday night to come forward. Contact police on 51212.