A MOTHER whose daughter was badly injured when she was knocked down by a skateboarder in Boscombe Chine Gardens is appealing for the help of locals in a legal fight.

Mo Morgan, 44, has been fighting a case with Bournemouth Borough Council since the incident in August 2011.

Her daughter India, now aged eight, needed hospital attention after she was hit by a skateboarder.

After being told by the police that there was little that could be done, she took legal advice and was told that the council should be made accountable for not displaying signs saying that skateboarding is prohibited, for not adequately patrolling the park or putting in preventative measures.

The council said the matter was being dealt with by its solicitors and it could not comment further on an ongoing case.

Mo, who was visiting Bournemouth with India and son Charlie, five, from Basingstoke in Hampshire, has been told that she needs locals to come forward to agree that skateboarding in the park is dangerous and a regular nuisance.

She said the council was still denying any negligence.

Mo said: “My daughter still now bears the physical and emotional scars from the accident and naturally has a fear of skateboarders anywhere near her.

“I strongly believe that Bournemouth Borough Council should be held accountable for it, but more importantly do more to prevent further accidents or fatalities in the future.

“It’s almost as if they need someone to be killed before they’ll do anything.

“It’s not a one-off, it’s a problem in Chine Gardens.

“If it had been an elderly person they could have killed them at the speed they were going.”

Fiona Manton, the council’s law and governance risk manager, said: “This matter has been fully investigated by the council’s public liability insurers, Zurich Municipal, and they have responded to the solicitors acting on behalf of Ms Morgan.

“The case is ongoing and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

Anyone who would like to contact Mo about the issue should email steven.smith@bournemouthecho.co.uk