A TEENAGE biker was killed and his pillion passenger seriously injured today when they were catapulted off their motorcycle after it ploughed into a lamp post.

The two 16-year-olds, both believed to from Breightmet, were hurled off the bike when it careered out of control.

Police said the two friends were riding a Suzuki motorbike along Waggon Road, Breightmet, towards Bury New Road, at 6am.

The bike, which had no registration plate, swerved across the road after the rider lost control. The cycle ploughed into a lamp post at the junction of Waggon Road and Mobberley Road. Both youths were not wearing crash helmets.

The rider was killed instantly and the passenger sustained chest injuries. He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Neighbours who heard the crash ran out of their homes to help the teenagers after raising the alarm.

Sean Sheridan, aged 34, of Mobberley Road, said: "It was very much a shock. First I heard the sound of a loud motorbike, then an almighty crash at the end of the street."

Madeline Lomax, aged 38, also of Mobberley Road, said: "I heard a loud bang at about 6am this morning which woke me up.

"I thought it was a milk float going over the bumps in the street until I looked out of the window. It was a terrible accident. A tragedy." Police accident investigators were today probing the cause of the crash. No other vehicle was involved.