This is the horrific moment two boys on an off-road motorbike smash into a 15-year-old schoolgirl while speeding down a pavement.

Jessica Chisnall was hit by a scrambler bike as she walked home from school with two friends in St Helens, Merseyside, on 13 January.

She barely escaped with her life after suffering a bleed on the brain, and is still recovering from the collision.

The two boys, aged 12 and 16, fled the scene after the crash, but were later arrested and charged.

Merseyside Police released footage of the incident this week to warn the public of the dangers of the illegal use of off-road bikes ahead of Christmas.

Jessica's mother and father both urged other parents not to buy the motorbikes for their children.

Carl Chisnall, Jessica's father, recalled the moment he was told about the crash.

"It was a typical Friday afternoon waiting for the girls to come home from school and college, then a bang on the door changed our lives dramatically," he said.

"My niece was at the door saying something has happened to our daughter. Our first thought was someone had hit her and nothing prepared us for what was to happen next.

"I ran to her and saw her lifeless on the floor and no movement. I was in shock and my first thought was she was dead. I just kept saying her name over and over not knowing if she could hear me or the seriousness of the injuries she had sustained.

"There was people around me offering help phoning the emergency services my focus and priority was on my daughter as my wife and other daughter were screaming and upset."

Jessica was taken to hospital and put in a medically-induced coma due to the severity of her injuries, which included bleeding on the brain, eye socket injuries and deep cuts.

The rider and passenger of the motorbike made off from the incident and were later arrested. The 16-year-old was later given a Detention and Training Order and disqualified from driving for five years. The 12-year-old was given a Youth Referral Order.

The off-road motorbike had been given to the 16-year-old passenger of the bike as a reward for good achievement in school.

jessica chisnall
Jessica Chisnall is still recovering from her ordeal, her family said Merseyside Police

Carl Chisnall said: "I plead with any responsible parent not to buy these bikes. They are not children's toys, they are not road legal and can only be ridden on private land with the land owner's permission.

"You're wasting your money but most of all you are putting your children and others at risk.

"I plead with anyone considering riding these bikes to think again. Think of the numerous people harassed and put at risk by riding these bikes. If you want to use one find a safe and legal place where you won't put other's and yourselves at risk."

Sara Chisnall, Jessica's mother, added: "Our daughter has been set back by all that has happened and our lives have changed dramatically, but we have fought hard to support her as a family.

"Christmas is a special time for us like all families but this year we count ourselves lucky to have our whole family together, things could have been so different. Like we say, we are looking forward.

"Hopefully this will deter parents from buying these bikes."

Merseyside Police Roads Policing Constable Shaun Regan said he hoped the release of the CCTV footage would remind people that "riding any vehicle on any pavement at any time is fraught with danger".

He added: "Almost 12 months on from the incident, Jessica and her family are still recovering from what happened and we don't want any other families to go through their continuing ordeal."

motorbike
The two boys can be seen in the CCTV footage speeding along the pavement before they smashed into Jessica Chisnall Merseyside Police