A BOLTON teenager died when an off-road trials motorbike he was riding crashed into a metal road barrier. Anthony Lyndon Symonds, 14, of Tonge Moor Road was riding a pal's machine in Cox Green Road, Bromley Cross yesterday. He is thought to have crashed into the barrier which spanned the road to stop access to a disused quarry. Although he was wearing a helmet, he suffered fatal head injuries.

His friend, Steven Rothwell, 14, of Hospital Road, Bromley Cross, watched in horror.

Anthony had been with a group of pals from Turton High School and had been riding Steven's unregistered off-road Kawasaki 50cc motorbike. He was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital but died shortly after the ambulance arrived.

Anthony, who has a twin brother, Richard, and an older sister, Rachel, was a BEN newsboy, delivering the paper each night for Tonge Moor newsagent P and H News.

Shocked owner David Patel described Anthony as a "nice, talkative, lively lad".

Anthony won the BEN Newspaper Boy of the Month competition for his dedication.

He also enjoyed being a member of the Army cadets based at Nelson Street.

His family were today too upset to talk about the tragedy.

Steven was not at school today but a member of his family said he was "coping, but very upset". The accident investigation unit attended the accident and police are appealing for witnesses to contact the Bolton Traffic Unit on 0161 856 5972.

A spokesman for the unit said: "This is a tragic loss of life. This was an inexperienced motorcyclist riding where he should not have been and this sadly highlights the dangers."

Turton High School deputy head John White said: "It is a tragic accident which has stunned us all.

"Anthony is going to be very sadly missed. He was popular and well liked by his peers".

He added that a counselling service has been set up to help pupils distressed by Anthony's death.

Among those receiving counselling are three girls who witnessed the accident.

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