A TEENAGE motorcyclist is fighting for his life in intensive care today following a crash in treacherous driving conditions at the weekend.

Torrential rain resulted in a spate of road accidents on Saturday night.

Four other teenagers had lucky escapes when their cars lost control in separate incidents.

In the most serious Keith Philip Johnson, 18, of Riverside Drive, Stoneclough, suffered serious head injuries when he lost control of his Honda 500cc motorbike on a roundabout at Hulme Road, Stoneclough .

Police, who are appealing for witnesses, believe the bike clipped the kerb.

The head injuries were aggravated when the rider's helmet came loose on impact. Fireman's son Keith's condition was today described as "critical but stable" in intensive care at Hope Hospital.

Police say that there were no other vehicles involved but are asking for any eye-witnesses to the incident, at 10.35pm on Saturday night, to contact them.

Meanwhile, two brothers had a miracle escape when their classic car, a soft-topped MG Midget, plunged 40ft down a steep embankment at Belmont.

Gary Fisher, 18, and his brother Bobby, 15, both of Vale Coppice, Horwich, managed to scramble free of the wreckage before it burst into flames - witnessed by their horrified father who had been driving his car behind them. The incident happened at 10.30pm on Scout Road, Belmont. Firefighters raced to the scene believing the occupants were trapped inside.

Jim O'Byrne, from Bolton Central fire station, said: "They were extremely lucky. We could see the flames from quite a distance away which didn't bode well for the persons trapped. We were very relieved to find out that they were already out of the car when we got there."

Paramedics treated both the teenagers for minor scratches and bruising. Bobby was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but not detained.

Minutes later firefighters were called to an accident outside the Old Links Golf Club, Doffcocker, after reports that a Vauxhall Astra had crashed into a parked car.

Driver Mark Dunn, 18 and Craig Tilley, 18, thought to be from the Bolton area, also escaped before the fire crews arrived and were treated for shock and minor cuts and bruises.

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