Hartlepool youngster still fighting for his life following crash.

Nine-year-old Ethan Paul Owens was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital following a collision on Monday evening.

The youngster, who is a pupil at Jesmond Gardens Primary School, is being kept heavily sedated at the moment and there has been no change in his condition.

His parents, Paul Owens, 36, and Lisa Cooper, 37, are keeping a bedside vigil as they wait for news.

Ethan's aunt, Sarah Bradley, 31, said today: "There has been no change at all."

Ethan has numerous injuries, including to his head, spine and pelvis, as well as a broken hand and other cuts and bruises.

The youngster was hit by a grey Range Rover at around 5.45pm on Monday, February 27, in the Marina Way area.

The second youngest of seven children, Ethan, was supposed to be at a youth club near his family's Dyke House home, but unknown to his mum he had gone to the marina area without her permission.

His dad, a gas pipe fitter, was working away in Kent at the time of the incident and family members, including Sarah, drove down to pick him up and travelled through the night to bring him home.

Earlier this week more than 1,200 candles were lit outside St Oswald's Church as the Dyke House community showed its love for Ethan.Cleveland Police are carrying out inquiries and the driver of the vehicle is co-operating with them.

Anyone with information should contact Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on 101 and quote event 33880.

Ethan is believed to have been with a group of friends when he struck by the Range Rover and off-duty probationer police officers who were nearby, rushed to help him.

They administered emergency first aid at the roadside until paramedics arrived to take over and the Great North Air Ambulance, which landed in the car park in front of Boots on the Anchor Retail Park, took him to James Cook University Hospital.