THE mother of a Sale teenager who almost lost his life when a youth knocked him off his bike is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Carole, who does not want to reveal her surname for fear of repercussions, told SAM how her son, Matthew, had to be rushed into hospital with internal bleeding after the incident on Dane Road.

The 13 year-old spent eight days in hospital and had his spleen removed in an emergency operation.

Matthew was riding along Dane Road last week, just five minutes from his home, when he approached a gang of about 20 youths.

As he cycled past, one of the gang stepped out and threw something at him, knocking him off his bike.

Most of the group ran off, but the female members stopped to help him and offered him a mobile phone to use.

He initially went home after the attack thinking he just had bruises and grazes, but the pain in his stomach got progressively worse.

Carole said: "He went to lie down when he got in, and he said it hurt so much it must be bleeding inside.

"I could see he had gone into shock - it was very frightening."

She called their doctor out, and Matthew was quickly taken to Trafford General Hospital.

Carole said: "The surgeon said it was a major operation for an adult, never mind for a child. He will need tablets for the rest of his childhood, and he will be prone to infections.

"Life's hard enough without this sort of thing."

Matthew was only just recovering from a terrifying incident last year, when he was help up at gunpoint in the street and asked for 20 pence.

Carole said: "When he got home I phoned the police straight away because I wasn't prepared to put up with this any more.

"I could understand it if there had been some sort of verbal interchange but there wasn't. He's just an ordinary lad - he's not at all aggressive. I was absolutely furious."

She hopes someone will come forward when they realise how serious Matthew's injuries were. She said: "It was a sunny afternoon, so there must have been people in their gardens who saw what happened."

DS Mark Proudlove of Altrincham police said he was treating the incident with an open mind.

He said: "It was either malicious or just a group of juveniles messing about, but either way the consequences have been tragic."

The youth responsible for the attack is described as white, 17 years old, with a skinhead.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at 5.30pm on Sunday May 13, is asked to call Altrincham police on 856 7525 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Calls will be treated confidentially.