A QUEUE of bus passengers leapt for safety when a teenage driver mounted the pavement before leading police on a high-speed chase through a York estate.

Police said four young people were in the silver Peugeot 205 that sped through Tang Hall at speeds of up to 60mph before being abandoned in Hewley Avenue.

A single police car had approached the 205 as it was parked behind a First bus in Tang Hall Lane, outside the doctors' surgery. But when the driver saw the police car he drove it on to the pavement, around the bus and through its queue of passengers.

It then sped off down Tang Hall Lane, through the bollards opposite the shops before being abandoned.

All four young people ran off. No one has been arrested.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Passengers were getting on and off a stationary First bus. They scattered as they jumped out of the way to avoid being injured."

Among the pedestrians was an elderly woman who jumped backwards to avoid the car.

It is not thought that anyone was seriously injured, but police have urged anyone who was hurt in the incident, or saw what happened, to contact them.

PC Julian Pearson, investigating the incident, said: "Our primary concern was that to evade us the driver was prepared to mount the footpath and then drive through a queue of innocent people.

"If anyone has any information then please contact us."

The chase happened at about 3.20pm on Tuesday.

Any witnesses or anyone who was injured should phone 01904 669884 and leave a message for PC Pearson.

Updated: 10:46 Thursday, December 11, 2003