A schoolboy has been horrifically injured in a firework accident, on Teesside.

The 11-year-old lost a thumb and sustained facial burns and a broken arm after a firework went off in his hand.

The youngster, who has not been named, is undergoing extensive treatment at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, following the accident which happened in the Redcar area, last Sunday.

It is understood the child was playing with other youngsters in the street when he picked up a lit firework.

News of the accident has so upset veteran safety campaigner Pearl Hall, the 83-year-old from South Bank, Middlesbrough, says she is ready to repeat her lobby of Parliament two years ago, when she asked MPs to ban shop sales of fireworks.

Coun Mrs Hall said: "It's tragic what's happened: I feel so sorry for that little boy. This has got to stop now, it's a slaughter. I am hearing of accidents every day. It's not just our area where children are getting injured. I am quite prepared to go down to the Commons again.

"For four years, people have called me a killjoy, saying fireworks were lovely in the sky, but it's another matter when they are on the ground and being thrown at people. I have no qualms about professionally organised displays.''

Superintendent Ian Richards of Langbaurgh Police said: "This little lad has some horrific injuries all of which could have been avoided by not playing with fireworks.

"We and our medical colleagues sincerely hope we don't see a repetition of this tragic incident and urge parents to drive home the fire work safety message.

"We obviously need mums and dads to know where their children are and what they are getting up to, to see noone gets hurt.''