FIRE crews using heavy lifting gear battled for an hour to free a biker trapped under a 40 tonne lorry near Tadcaster.

Two crews from Tadcaster and a specialist heavy rescue unit struggled to free 65-year-old motorcyclist William Page from Leeds, who came off his bike on a road near Tadcaster and got trapped under the axle of an HGV at about 2pm yesterday. Mr Page was riding along Five Lane Ends - a road off the B1223 near Ulleskelf - when he came off his bike on a bend and went into the rear axle of an HGV which stopped on top of his leg.

Tadcaster fire fighter Ted Lumb, who attended the incident, said: "It was very unusual in that he'd got trapped under one of the wheels of the lorry and his left leg was stuck. He seemed to have to have gone between the front wheels and got stuck under the rear axle.

"He was conscious and answering all the paramedics questions."

Specialist lifting gear, including hydraulic ramps and giant air bags, were used to lift the HGV free of his leg and paramedics worked to stabilise him at the roadside. He was air-lifted to St James's Hospital in Leeds, where he was said to be in a critical, but stable condition.

The driver of the HGV was unhurt, but was said to be suffering from severe shock.

The road was shut for several hours. following the accident.

Updated: 10:34 Tuesday, July 27, 2004