POPULAR teenager Carl Hammersley died in hospital four days after the young motorcyclist was in collision with a Mercedes.

The accident happened as Carl, aged 17, was on his way to his regular Sunday morning motorcycle training scheme.

He was taken to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, but died from his injuries in hospital at 5.45am on Thursday.

Carl, from Trentley Drive, Biddulph Moor, was an apprentice mechanic at a Longton firm, and was attending the training scheme with a view to taking his motorcycle test.

"He had had a motorcycle for 18 months, and was looking to take his test any time now,'' said his father David.

"His ultimate ambition was to become a motorcycle training instructor.

"He was a very popular chap, and our telephone has not stopped ringing from people he knew calling to offer their condolences.''

Carl recently won a first prize in a road safety trial organised by the Potteries and District motorcycle training group.

The accident happened at 10am on Saturday at Sandon near Stafford. Carl was travelling towards Sandon on his 125cc Kawasaki motorycle when he was in collision with a Mercedes estate coming the other way.

The collision took place on the B5066, and the Mercedes driver and passenger escaped uninjured.

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