A TEENAGE mountain biker was rescued by search and rescue volunteers after coming off his bike on a forest trail and badly injuring his ankle.

The 17-year-old, from the Stockton area, was injured in Hamsterley Forest, County Durham, at 6.30pm tonight.

Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team were called out by the ambulance service because the boy was ten minutes from the nearest road. 

Pete Bell, Mountain Rescue Team Leader, said: "Six of our team members attended with one of our vehicles.

"The casualty was loaded onto our stretcher and with the assistance of the casualty's father and a friend was carried to a waiting ambulance.

"During the carry our the Great North Air Ambulance became available and the casualty was transferred to the helicopter and taken to James Cook Hospital (in Middlesbrough)."