ONE youngster had a lucky escape and another suffered a broken leg when they were knocked down by cars in separate incidents in York.

Police said a ten-year-old girl was injured when she ran from behind an ice cream van into the path of a car near Pickering House, in March Street, The Groves, at about 6.20pm yesterday.

She suffered a broken leg and was taken to York Hospital by ambulance.

Meanwhile, New Earswick youngster Daniel Perkins, 11, had a lucky escape after he was thrown into the air in a collision with a taxi close to the spot in Blossom Street, York, where York schoolgirl Katie Scales was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver early in December.

Daniel's mother, Jane, said her son had been crossing the road alone at about 4.30pm yesterday to go to Kentucky Fried Chicken, but was not on the pelican crossing.

A car stopped to let him cross, but a red Hackney-style cab in the next lane clipped him, throwing him into the air.

The taxi driver got out and asked him if he was OK and the shocked youngster said he was, said Mrs Perkins. He then drove off.

Police said the taxi driver later called in at the police station in Fulford Road to report the accident.

Staff at KFC comforted Daniel and called Mrs Perkins. He was taken to casualty where staff said he had been "very lucky". The football mad youngster, who wants to play for Leeds United, suffered bruised legs.

Mrs Perkins said: "He had a very lucky escape. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped Daniel, and to the police."

Updated: 12:54 Saturday, January 18, 2003