The parents of Ben Allen, the 14-year-old Wallingford boy injured in a road accident just yards from his home, have kept a vigil at his bedside in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

The Wallingford School pupil has serious head injuries following the incident in which his bicycle and a white Citroen Berlingo collided at 6.45pm on June 15.

He has had a blood clot removed from his brain and is coming out of intensive care.

His mother Sally Allen said at her home at Wantage Road: "He seems to be recovering, thank goodness.

"His father David and I have been with him all night. We do not know exactly what happened but Wantage Road is a notoriously fast road.

"We are very hopeful that he will have a full recovery."

Neighbours said Ben was always around on his bike after he finished his daily paper round.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "Ben is our paper boy - he's a nice lad and everyone is dreadfully sorry about what has happened.

"We are all praying he will be all right."

The accident happened on the corner of Queens Road and Wantage Road and police sealed off the road as they tried to find out what happened.

Ben did his paper round for KP Stationers in Wallingford's Market Place.

Manager Ashley Kempson said: "This has shocked all of us, especially the other paper boys.

"Ben is a nice lad and Wantage Road deliveries are in his area.

"He wasn't delivering papers at the time of the accident.

"I did his deliveries for him on Thursday and people were very shocked at what happened.

"All our thoughts are with him and his parents."

Police are appealing for witnesses to what happened.

Anyone who saw anything should contact Abingdon Roads Policing Department on 0845 8505505 or on Crimestoppers 0800 555111.