A TEENAGER has won £30,000 compensation from his local council after being crushed by a street-sweeping lorry.

Middlesbrough Borough Council has been ordered to pay the cash to 13-year-old Mark Higgins, of Coppice Road, Marton Grove, Middlesbrough, following the accident five years ago.

Mark was seriously injured when he fell under the lorry as he, his six-year-old brother, Carl, and two friends went to ask the refuse workers if they could help.

His barrister, Andrew Lewis, told Middlesbrough County Court yesterday that the boys were all happy and excited.

"The road-sweeping machine has an enormous fascination for children," said Mr Lewis.

"It is inevitable that young children of that age, playing in a back garden of a quiet cul-de-sac and seeing such a vehicle, will inevitably approach it and follow it."

Mark told the court that he ran alongside and stopped when he got out of breath. His friend, Peter Powell, bumped into him and he was knocked under the lorry's wheels.

Driver Stuart Cross said that he did not see any children, and said he always checked his mirrors, and would stop if he thought children were in danger.

But Judge Peter Bowers said Mr Cross should have seen the children following him.

He said: "It seems to me that there was ample opportunity for the driver to see them.

"I think he ought to have seen that they had come out of the garden and were coming towards his vehicle before he lost sight of what was going on behind."

The council agreed damages, but denied liability.

Last night, a spokesman for Middlesbrough council said: "Everyone from the council who has been involved in this case has been deeply affected by it, and everybody has the utmost sympathy for the young lad and what he has gone through.

"We have to reserve comment on the case until we have seen the full judgement. However, accidents of this nature are very rare, and we do have strict and effective safety procedures to try and prevent them."

Mark's mother, Melanie, said she intended to spend £3,000 of the award on a holiday