A BOY who was involved in an horrific accident that left him impaled on the brake lever of his mountain bike, yesterday received a bravery award from the Ambulance Service.

William Spink, nine, fell off his bike at his home, next to the Quality Hotel in Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire, in August.

He fell with such force that the brake lever penetrated four inches into his thigh.

His mother, Nikki, heard him shouting for help and ran to help.

Her cries were answered by hotel staff, while his five-year-old sister, Sophie, dialled 999.

Paramedics from Richmond were quickly on the scene, along with the fire brigade personnel and a doctor and nurse from Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Firefighters freed the brake lever from the rest of the bike and William was rushed to hospital, where it was removed. He left hospital the next day.

Yesterday William was presented with a bravery certificate by the paramedics who treated him.

He said: "Everybody was telling me how brave I had been and all my friends said it must have been really painful, but it didn't hurt because I was in shock."

Hotel waiter Andy Houghton, 17, was also recognised for his part in the drama, holding William still until the paramedics arrived.

William's mother, Nikki said: "William was so brave. I was the one flapping, but he did not scream or cry."

Paramedic Roy Bebbington said: "It was a real team effort.

"Mr Houghton and other helpers from the hotel did exactly the right thing to prevent further damage to the patient.

"William was very brave and good-humoured throughout his ordeal, and he richly deserved some form of recognition, as did Mr Houghton."