A TEENAGER who lost his finger in a freak accident has had the injured digit sewn into his groin to help it grow back.

Ben Lee's middle right-hand finger was torn off when his ring got caught as he tried to scale a 10ft fence last Thursday.

He was taken to the University Hospital of Hartlepool before being transferred to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where he stayed for four days.

Doctors have now inserted the bone from Ben's injured hand into his groin to help it grow back, but warned that could take up to six months.

The 15-year-old was on his way to his friend's house and tried to take a short-cut by jumping over the fence at Brierton School, Hartlepool.

A woman came to his aid and phoned the emergency services.

Ben's mother, Wendy Lee, 39, thanked the woman who helped her son.

Mother-of-five Wendy, from Saffron Walk, in Seaton Carew, said: "We have no idea who the woman is but she was fantastic and used a cardigan to stop the bleeding.

"We would like to get in touch with her so we can send a bunch of flowers to show our appreciation."

The fire brigade took Ben to hospital and recovered the missing finger.

Mrs Lee said: "We are hopeful the finger will grow back but doctors said it could take up to six months.

"Ben has to go back to hospital but we wanted to get him home because he was so miserable."