A MOTORCYCLIST involved in a collision fled into nearby gardens before the police arrived to discover the bike had been stolen in 2014.

A crash between a van and a black Aprilia motorbike happened yesterday morning in Whitefield as the driver of the van was making a U-turn.

Following the crash, the motorcyclist fled the scene and the police received multiple calls from members of the public who had seen the helmet-wearing rider either hiding in or running through their gardens.

Calls were made from both Ripon Avenue and Heathfield Road.

Police officers checked the registration and chassis numbers of the motorbike.

They discovered the bike had been stolen from Merseyside in 2014 and had been using false plates.

PC Richard Garland thanked members of the public who had got in touch about the motorcyclist's whereabouts.