Young fans hit in speedway smash

A teenage girl was seriously injured and two other people hurt when a motorbike crashed into spectators at a Speedway event in Northumberland.

The 14-year-old girl suffered head injuries when the bike left the track at Berwick Rangers Football Club in Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The bike was being ridden by Scott Smith of the Berwick Bandits in a meet against the Isle of Wight Islanders.

A 14-year-old boy in the crowd was also injured in the crash.

The girl was taken to Berwick Infirmary but her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Four riders were taking part in the race when Smith and his team-mate Paul Fry lost control at a corner.

Domino effect

Both riders hit the fence and Fry was catapulted over the fence landing near the crowd around 90ft (27m) from the track.

Smith came off his bike but stayed on the right side of the fence while his bike was catapulted into the crowd injuring the two children.

Fry, who sustained suspected broken toes, knee ligament damage and cuts and bruises, was treated at the scene.

Bob Tasker, of the British Speedway Promoter's Association, said: "The riders always bunch up when they come to a corner, but they hit each other which had a domino effect.

"The two riders made contact with the plywood fence which absorbs the impact - but it did not stop one bike just catapulting into the crowd.

"I've never seen anything like it before."

'Nasty incident'

Radio Newcastle speedway reporter Lawrence Hepple said: "The speed that they were going and the lack of control of steering meant they just went straight towards, and careered into, the fence.

"The fence did its job and collapsed, which is the idea to try and slow things down.

"But with the position of the bikes and the debris of the fence, one of the bikes and a rider shot over the fence and into the crowd enclosure, which was a shocking thing to witness."

An Isle of Wight Islanders statement said: "This was a very nasty incident, one that is thankfully very, very rare within this sport."

Northumbria Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident which happened on Saturday evening.