SCHOOLPALS Tyler Tonge and Amelia Helliwell are making a gradual recovery nearly two months after they were knocked down on a busy Bury road.

Tyler (11) and Amelia (12) had been to post a letter together in Cross Lane, Radcliffe, when they were struck by a car on March 3 near to Holland Court, where Tyler lives with her mum and brother.

The girls were catapulted into the air and onto the road. Tyler, who took the brunt of the impact, broke her arm and fractured her pelvis, leaving her in a wheelchair for two weeks. Amelia suffered a broken arm and broken toe.

They were taken to Fairfield Hospital, and Tyler was made to lie flat on her back for seven days.

Her mother, Sarah Tonge, said that even though her daughter cannot remember what happened, she has been badly affected by the accident, and is yet to return to Derby High School.

She said: "She is getting better but she is very wary about going out. We have been told that Tyler can return to school but she is still struggling to move her arm.

"She had to have physiotherapy for a while to get her back on her feet and she seems to be doing okay now. It's been such an ordeal, though."

Amelia, who lives in Wellington Street, Radcliffe, is back at school but is having to use a laptop as she is still unable to write because of the damage to her arm.

The youngster visited Fairfield Hospital last week for a check-up but was told the fracture arm had still not healed properly. . Doctors said that if the fracture does not knit back together, she will have to have wires put into her elbow.

Amelia's mother, Sharon, said: "Along with her arm, Amelia cut her face and also broke her toe but Tyler took most of the force.

"She can remember it all so it has affected her psychologically.

"This accident has been a bit of a turning point for Amelia. Since going back to school after the Easter holidays she has knuckled down to some hard work with the help of the laptop."

Police investigations are continuing into the accident.