Teenagers injured in 'mountain biking blackspot'

Coombs Wood is a popular spot for mountain bikers in Cumbria, mountain rescue said

Mountain bikers have been warned about an "accident black spot" after two teenagers were injured in separate incidents within a week.

Riders aged 14 and 12 respectively suffered a suspected broken jaw and a chest injury on 25 and 31 October at Coombs Wood in Armathwaite, said a Penrith Mountain Rescue Team (PMRT) spokesperson.

The team said it received a variety of callouts for the area but "most stemmed from younger mountain bikers using the unauthorised trails built in the woodland".

PMRT urged people to use appropriate head and body protection when riding on steep ground.

The team said Coombs Wood was a "popular location for walking, climbing and mountain biking".

The first callout happened at about 16:15 BST on 25 October after the 14-year-old cyclist crashed and suffered a head injury as well as a suspected broken jaw.

The team was called to the second incident, on Friday, at about 10:50 GMT, after a mountain biker reported having difficulty breathing after sustaining a chest injury.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) aided in the rescue.