A TEENAGER who was left fighting for his life after a road accident was riding a stolen motorcycle, it was revealed today.

A TEENAGER who was left fighting for his life after a road accident was riding a stolen motorcycle, it was revealed today.

The 19-year-old was riding an off-road motorbike along Foxhall Road in Ipswich on Friday evening when he was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa near to the junction with Dover Road.

The rider - who has not been named - was initially said to have suffered life-threatening injuries but has since improved, though his condition remains critical

He is currently being treated at Papworth Hospital, which specialises in chest injuries.

Police today confirmed the 125CC green and orange dirt bike the young man was riding had been stolen from Roundwood Road, Ipswich, between 8pm on Thursday and 7am on Friday - just hours before the accident.

A spokeswoman said officers were not pursuing the bike at the time of the crash, but a police vehicle which had been in the area at the time arrived at the scene just a few moments afterwards and called the ambulance service.

Initially the rider was thought to have received minor injuries but then suffered problems with his chest and was taken to Papworth, near Cambridge.

Sandra Dowe, of Roundwood Road, said the bike had belonged to her 12-year-old son Jaydee Askew, a junior off-road rider who had been looking forward to riding his bike at the weekend.

“The police called me up and I went to the scene to ID the bike and it was definitely Jaydee's - thankfully, it didn't look too badly damaged and the officers said they would have it all properly safety checked before they return it,” said Miss Dowe.

“It's awful to have something like that stolen. It was in a locked back garden.

“Jaydee had been looking forward all week to going out riding this weekend and then this happens.”

At the scene on Friday night officers said the motorbike, designed for off-road riding, should not have been on a public road.

The street was closed for more than three hours while police carried out an investigation.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the accident, which happened just after 5pm, to contact Pc Scott Lee-Amies on 01473 613500.

Do you know the youngster involved in the crash? Do you want to send the family a message of support? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk