A WORCESTER man is appealing to a mystery teenager to contact him after he watched in horror as the boy fell into the canal on his brand new bike.

Colin Pettifer saw the boy career into the Worcester Birmingham canal at about 8.30am on Saturday, at the back of Worcester City football ground in St George's Lane.

Although the boy managed to scramble out, he left his bike submerged under the water.

"I've got the bike and I want to give it back to the young lad," said Mr Pettifer. "He was obviously in shock and had injured his leg by the way he was hobbling. He must think his treasured possession is still at the bottom of the canal. You hear so many stories of poor little children having their bikes stolen, I would love to give it back to him."

Mr Pettifer was walking his German Shepherd dog Bonnie along the towpath near his Shrubbery Road home when the accident happened.

He said the cyclist was pedalling towards the Arboretum when he veered off for no apparent reason. There was a splash and Mr Pettifer thought the youngster was in trouble, but before he could get close to him the boy hauled himself out of the canal and hobbled off.

"It's a good thing I was a bit late for our walk that day," said Mr Pettifer, president of Worcester and District Angling Association.

"I rushed home to get a grappling hook and fished the bike out. It is a super machine which looks brand new. The boy was obviously proud of it because he was wearing a matching helmet which also looked brand new."

The metallic blue Raleigh bike has large, chunky, grey and blue wheels.

Mr Pettifer, a cabinet maker, said the boy was about 5ft 6in tall with dark hair and was aged about 14. He was wearing a striking bright yellow shirt.

Although Mr Pettifer stuck a sign at the spot giving his details he says it has gone missing. Anyone who has any information should contact Mr Pettifer at 11 Shrubbery Road, Worcester.

n Colin Pettifer with the bike he found in the canal. Picture by Martin Humby. 171548d2