A TEENAGER suffered severe burns after his trousers caught fire during a prank that went wrong at a York garage.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened at the D.C Cook Toyota garage off Lawrence Street earlier this month.

Officers say the fifteen-year-old boy was visiting an employee at the garage when, as a jape, he was thrown into a skip by three mechanics

As he climbed out of the skip, he knocked over an oil drum, spilling oil onto his trousers and shoes, said PC Malcolm Ward.

He said those involved then attempted to use brake fluid to remove the oil, further covering the youngster's trousers and shoes.

The teenager was wearing leather shoes and the mechanics told him that the brake fluid would damage the leather.

With the youngster's consent, one of the employees then tried to burn the fluid from his shoes, and due to the flammable nature of the substances, caused his trousers to catch fire, PC Ward said.

The teenager ran around in a panic, while the mechanics tried to put out the fire with cloths.

PC Ward said: "One of the employees then tried to remove the younger lad's trousers, but the nylon tracksuit stuck to the skin on the teenager's shins and ankles."

The injured youth was taken to hospital where he was treated for severe burns to his ankles and shins.

The incident was reported to the Health and Safety Executive, which launched its own enquiries and reported the matter to the police.

The HSE's findings have now been passed on to the police for further investigation, which is being led by Detective Sergeant Dean Robinson.

He was unable to reveal the name of the victim.

He told the Evening Press that D.C Cook was being very helpful with police enquiries.

Craig McIntosh, the general manager of D.C Cook, said "The company obviously does not condone any actions of the kind that took place on November 13.

"All involved were suspended from duty immediately and the relevant authorities were called in by ourselves."

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