It was a day his parents thought they would never see as little Jamie Hancox celebrated his fourth birthday just a couple of months after suffering horrific injuries in a Shropshire road accident.

The youngster spent nine days in intensive care after being hit by a van and knocked off his scooter outside the family home in Brookside, Telford. And now Jamie’s dad, Mark, and mum, Shelley, have dubbed their son a “miracle boy”.

The youngster defied doctors’ predictions to pull through despite suffering serious head injuries.

Mark, who runs a computer firm in Stafford Park, said he never imagined after the accident they would be able to celebrate his birthday.

On May 24 the family’s life “changed forever”.

“Jamie was playing beside his home one minute and fighting for his life the next,” Mark said.

After the accident a quick-thinking neighbour, hailed a “hero” by Jamie’s parents, ran to his rescue.

Shortly afterwards a doctor from the Midlands Air Ambulance heard the call while driving on the M6 and managed to get to Telford before paramedics to begin treatment.

Shelley said their actions, and the work of staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, saved their son’s life. After nine days in intensive care, and despite doctors believing the boy could die, the toddler pulled through and returned home with partial brain damage on June 20.

“It was a time I will never forget,” Shelley said.

“Jamie was unconscious in hospital and it was terrible. We didn’t sleep for days.”

On the day of the accident Mark was on business in Scotland and could not fly home because of the volcanic ash cloud. Staff at the Premier Inn, Greenock, Gla-sgow, helped the father-of-four get home to see his son.

“I was in shock and could not believe what happened, but the staff at the hotel were fantastic,” he said.

“We also want to thank Constable Alan Mootham who has been an amazing support and help for us. He stayed in the hospital with us and helped us so much.”

Jamie will now start at Windmill Primary School and Children’s Centre in Telford in September.

Mark added: “Jamie does have some behavioural problems but the school said they will do everything they can to help him. The family just want to thank everyone for their support.”

By Jason Lavan