A CHILD was cut free by firefighters after trapping her leg in the wheel of a bicycle.

Lynsey Ryan, aged 11, of Partridge Close, Oakwood, was playing with friends when the accident happened.

"I was riding on the back of my friend's bike," she said, "and I went to put my foot on the floor because there was a stump on the ground and my foot went through the spokes."

Neighbours alerted Lynsey's mum, Amanda, and despite a man trying to cut her free with a hacksaw, her leg would not budge. So as a last resort, the fire brigade was called. The crew from Birchwood used specialist equipment to cut through the spokes, taking care not to cut Lynsey's leg.

"They were brilliant with her," said Amanda. "They tried to keep her calm and one of them held her leg while the others cut the wheel."

Lynsey says she has learnt her lesson and won't be riding on the back of anyone else's bike. "I shouldn't have been doing it. My mum told me not to because she thought I might fall off."

Amanda added: "Maybe this will teach her friends not to try it."

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