A BMX track where a York teenager had a serious accident has been transformed into a willow copse after consultation with local youngsters.

Gavin Wilson, 14, of Strensall Road, Huntington, was left paralysed from the chest down after he fell from his mountain bike at the track in St Nicholas Fields, Tang Hall, York, in June.

He has been making outstanding progress at Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, and is enjoying regular weekend home visits.

He was even able to spend Christmas at home and is due to go back to school at Burnholme Community College early next year.

Because of the serious nature of the accident, and how it had affected everyone in the area, the Friends of St Nicholas Fields, which runs the urban nature park, decided that it should be up to the young people to decide what happened to the track.

After consulting with youth worker Mick Phillips, who is in regular contact with youngsters in the Tang Hall area, it was decided to remove the track for good.

Park ranger Gordon Campbell-Thomas said: "The feedback was that the BMX track should go.

"On the basis of that it's now been bulldozed and planted up as a willow copse.

"I think that it was important that, notwithstanding the terrible accident that happened to Gavin, the wishes of the kids prevailed.

"We always said that what the kids wanted was most important." Gavin said that he and his friends had been keen to get the track installed, although none of his friends have returned there since the accident.

He said: "As long as kids wear protection and the track was maintained properly, I don't see why they should pull it down.

"I can't think of another track nearby.

"It doesn't really bother me, but my friends haven't gone on it again since I had my accident."

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, January 03, 2002