The hero Blackpool teens who helped mother and child after hit and run crash on Devonshire Road

Friends Josh Hayward-Jones,12, and Charlie Belcher, 12, were walking along Devonshire Road just before 8pm yesterday when they witnessed a car crash.

A grey Volkswagen Golf and a white Peugeot 108 had been involved in a collision and the two teens went to help and were the first on the scene.

Josh, who lives on Mexford Avenue, said: "We were going to watch the sunset and we heard a massive bang and saw the two cars had crashed into each other.

"We ran over to the white car and got the woman out and she said her child was in the back of the car.

"“Smoke had started to come from the car so we went to rescue the child but the door was stiff because of the crash so we had to really pull it hard to open it.”

The driver and a passenger of the Volkswagen fled the scene after the crash, leaving the mother, child and another adult in the Citroen.

Charlie, of Raymond Avenue, said he saw one of them run off.

He said: "We didn't spot them at first but I did see someone run off down Raymond Avenue. Apparently the other person ran off the opposite way but we were more worried about the other people in the crash."

The pair, who attend Unity Academy on Warbreck Hill Road, rang 999 and waited for the emergency services to turn up.

Josh said: "It was all a bit of a shock really and it all went very quickly. The woman was in too much shock to know what was happening and Charlie and I are trying to find out how she and her child are doing."

Josh's stepmother, Kayleigh Glaister, said the pair were 'fantastic and brave' for what they did following the crash.

She said: " I was in a bit of shock and didn't quite know what had happened when Josh rang me as he was so calm about what had happened. When they got back I realised how serious it was and I just think how fantastic and brave they were to think about the woman and her child rather than themselves.

"I have told them how they are feeling now that they should carry that through their lives as it's such a kind act for anyone to do especially for two teenagers."

The casualties were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital by ambulance following the crash in which firefighters were called to help stabilise the wrecked Peugeot whilst paramedics treated all three casualties at the scene.

Police are still searching for the occupants of the Golf.

A police spokesman said: "We were contacted at shortly before 8pm to a report that a VW Golf and a Peugeot had collided on Devonshire Road, Blackpool.

"Emergency services attended and the road was closed while the incident was dealt with.

"The occupants of the Golf made off from the scene and enquiries are on-going to trace them."

A spokesman for NWAS said: "We received a call at 7.51pm to reports of an road traffic collision in Devonshire Road.

"We sent an ambulance and treated three patients at scene (two adults and infant) who were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital."

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service added: "Two fire engines from Blackpool attended a road traffic collision involving two vehicles.

"Firefighters used stabilisation equipment to assist ambulance crews in treatment of one casualty who was subsequently taken to hospital."