A TEENAGER was seriously injured after falling at least 35ft from a trouble-spot multi-storey building in York's city centre.

The 19-year-old, who has not been named by police, was found semi-conscious on the pavement by a passer-by after falling from the car park area of Stonebow House.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said the teenager had suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, internal injuries and compound fractures to his wrists.

Tim Hornsby, who manages the nearby Fibbers live music venue, said staff regularly saw youths climbing on the car park walls and even jumping onto the bus shelter roofs beneath.

But Sgt Colin Ventress, of York Police, said there was no suggestion that the injured man had been involved in any such activity.

The man, who is understood to be from the York area, is in York Hospital today after the incident at about midnight today. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening

Mr Hornsby said staff had warned youths who jumped from the car park that they could be injured.

He said the building was "really dangerous" with groups of youths gathering at night and running amok on the deserted car park levels.

"It's awful," he said. "But there are kids up there all the time. There doesn't seem to be anything done to stop them."

He said he feared someone jumping on to a shelter below would slip and fall beneath a moving bus.

Sgt Ventress said the fall was not being treated as suspicious by the police. He was not aware of any complaints of youths jumping from the building in the past few months.

He said officers were appealing for witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information should phone York Police on 01904 631321.

Steve Adamthwaite, principal environmental health officer for City of York Council, said he would investigate the incident further.

No one at Evans Property Group, which owns the building, was available to comment.

Updated: 14:50 Thursday, May 22, 2003