A WOMAN has described how a night with friends ended in horror when mother-of-three Elaine Haworth was struck and seriously injured by a car.

Nina Davis told Preston Crown Court her account of the evening of August 15 last year when Elaine suffered serious pelvic and head injuries.

Richard Lee Bradley, 18, of Whitby Drive, Blackburn has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm but faces trial on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard that Mrs Haworth and her husband were socialising with friends, enjoying beers and wine while their children played out in the street, moments before the collision.

Mother-of-two, Miss Davis, of Priory Grange, said: "We noticed a car driving up, one that we hadn't seen in the area before.

"It was a silver Vauxhall Astra packed with people.

"My comment was 'they look like sardines squashed in that car.'"

She told the court how the car drove into Abbey Place and out of sight for about 20 minutes.

"It all happened so fast," she added. "The car sped out. The noise was frightening. I did not have a chance to see how many people were in it.

"The children were still out playing football. Children were in the road still milling around. We were all alarmed.

"My initial reaction was to get my daughters because I knew there was going to be some damage. I just knew. I only saw the car again when it hit Elaine."

The court heard that Elaine was "at the end of her tether" with problems of speeding drivers in the area.

She "flew up out of her chair" when the car went past, the court was told.

Miss Davis added: "Elaine's first reaction was to get the driver to try and slow down because she was concerned for her children.

"I could hear the car at the bottom of Chancel Place revving very heavily for a number of minutes. I saw it coming out and going very fast."

When asked by Richard Howarth, prosecuting, if the car swerved or braked, she replied: "Definitely not."

She said the car hit Mrs Haworth's waist and caused her to arch over the bonnet.

Elaine's husband Daniel told the court he had tried to get a registration number of the vehicle and followed it into Chancel Place.

He said his first reaction was of astonishment saying: "What the hell was that?"

He told the court he did not see the incident but just heard a thud and people scream "Oh my God, its Elaine."

Mr Howarth, prosecuting, also questioned a witness who was in the car with Bradley.

He asked how he described Bradley's driving and he answered: "I thought it was a bit horrendous but not entirely."

(Proceeding)