A TEENAGE biker was dragged for 800 yards after being hit by thieves in a van who were fleeing the police while towing a caravan.

The 19-year-old Bolton motorcyclist was driving along Bridgewater Road in Walkden when he was hit.

He was trapped under the caravan and had to be freed by firefighters using hydraulic lifting equipment.

Amazingly, the man escaped with minor leg injuries and was last night recovering from his ordeal in hospital.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene and was yesterday being questioned by officers. The incident happened at 4.30pm on Saturday.

Insp Ian Hales, from Greater Manchester Police’s Road Policing Unit, said: “The driver deliberately drove off from police before running a red light and colliding with a motorbike.

“This act could have had fatal consequences. Thankfully, the cyclist only suffered minor injuries.

“At this stage, I am confident the officer who pursued the driver acted correctly throughout the incident. It appears both the van and caravan were stolen and the driver failed to stop in a bid to evade arrest “I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who knows anything about the incident, to contact police.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Road Policing Unit on 0161 856 6173, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.