The parents of a three-year-old boy left fighting for his life after an accident are pressing for specialist treatment in a bid to improve his recovery.

Alex Wakeling was in a collision with a car in Key Road, Clacton, 11 weeks ago.

The youngster spent two weeks in intensive care at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with his parents at his bedside night and day.

After four weeks at the hospital he was transferred to Colchester General Hospital, where he is making steady progress.

But his parents Steve and Amanda, of Langham Drive, Clacton, are urging for him to go to a centre in Somerset which specialises in children with head injuries.

"We are seeing the consultant again today and we hope he will be able to go to Tadworth," said Mr Wakeling today (Friday).

"Alex has been getting great care at Colchester but we feel if he is to continue his recovery he needs specialist rehabilitation. It is an NHS facility but it is all a question of funding."

Mr Wakeling said if Alex went to Tadworth staff there would be able to spend more time with him working on his arms, legs and speech.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that the answer will be positive," he added.

"If not, then we will have to look into other ways of funding a move and we have already approached a number of charities."

Alex was in collision with a Peugeot 205 car in Key Road on May 5. Mr Wakeling said it had been a nightmare 11 weeks but things were beginning to get easier.

"Little by little we have been getting more of Alex back," he said.

"Since he came round for the first time his level of consciousness has improved. Simple things like his first laugh and cry were big steps forward for us."

Mr Wakeling said his son was still not speaking properly and could not walk without help.

"It is difficult to assess the long term and there are no guarantees - but we are remaining positive and moving in the right direction."

Mr Wakeling and his wife take it in turns to be with their son and he said his firm, Deben Transport, have been very understanding as he has not been to work since the accident.

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