A TEENAGE schoolboy suffered serious multiple injuries in a crash between his bicycle and a motorbike in York today.

The 14-year-old was taken to hospital with head, pelvic, chest and leg injuries after the crash, at the junction of Nunnery Lane and Bishopthorpe Road.

The accident happened at about 8.40am today when the boy was on his way to school.

Early details were sketchy, but the boy's injuries, although severe, were not thought by the ambulance service to be life-threatening. The male motorcyclist was unhurt.

Gary Mainprize, who manages the nearby Maynews Newsagents, in Bishopthorpe Road, said the boy sometimes worked for him as a cover paper-deliverer.

Mr Mainprize said: "I can't believe it, it is terrible. It is a case of fingers crossed and hope he is OK. I am hoping to speak to his parents soon to find out how he is doing."

City centre worker Dawn Worcester saw the immediate aftermath of the crash.

She said: "It looked like three cars were dotted around and a cyclist had been knocked off his bike.

"It looked like they were massaging his heart. He was in a bad way. There were delays going up Nunnery Lane."

Nunnery Lane was closed after the accident while a police accident investigation team carried out inquiries.

"It will be closed for a few hours," said a police spokesman.

The manager of the nearby Moat Hotel, who asked not to be named, said: "It was only when I saw it through the window that it all looked a bit grim.

"The traffic does go so fast down here. Maybe this will be a call for speed humps. It's a wonder there aren't more accidents."

Sergeant Nigel Atkinson said police were not looking to make any arrests in connection with the incident at this time.

He said the cyclist was on his way to Millthorpe School, where he is a pupil, when the motorcyclist on the 600cc machine was in collision with him.

He said: "It appears at this time that the (pedal) cyclist has been in the process of crossing the road when the motorcyclist was in collision with him from the right. I would urge anyone who witnessed the accident to come forward."

He said the injured boy's mother was with the boy at York Hospital. He said the boy was in a "serious but stable" condition.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to phone the police witness line on 01904 669884.

In December, 2002, Haxby girl and All Saints' School pupil Katie Scales suffered horrendous injuries in a hit-and-run crash in nearby Blossom Street. Katie, who was 11 at the time of the accident, made a full recovery from her injuries. The car driver has never been traced.

Updated: 10:24 Friday, April 23, 2004