A SPATE of sports injuries saw four teenage boys treated by paramedics at the weekend.

A 15-year-old, a 14-year-old, a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old were hurt in four separate issues that happened in the space of 20 minutes.

An ambulance was sent to the playing fields at Ross Road in Ledbury at 11.32am on Sunday after a report of a 14-year-old boy having suffered a neck injury in a game of football.

He was seen to by the crew and treated at the scene.

While they were there a 999 call came in about a 12-year-old rugby player who was injured when a rugby scrum collapsed. A second ambulance was sent to the scene.

The player, from a village between Ledbury and Hereford, was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being taken to Hereford County Hospital with neck pain.

The third incident happened at 11.48am at Droitwich Rugby Club in Hanbury Road, Droitwich, where a 15-year-old Worcester boy was complaining of neck and back pain.

Paramedic Mark Chapman. who attended, said: "I was really impressed by the people at the match.

"They had covered the lad in a space blanket to keep him warm and someone was holding his neck still.

"After an initial assessment I decided that we should immobilise him as a precaution.

"Because it was so slippery and muddy, a number of bystanders volunteered to give us a hand carrying the lad across the pitches to the ambulance."

The boy was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further assessment and x-rays of his neck.

The final incident happened at Worcester Rugby Club in Pershore Lane, Worcester, less than five minutes later.

On this occasion an 11-year-old boy from the city had sustained a suspected fracture to his collar bone and shoulder injury.

Paramedic, Tim Pearson, said he was in "a fair bit of pain" and due to the extremely muddy pitch they called the County Air Ambulance to fly him the short distance to the Royal.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "It is great to see so many youngsters out taking part in activity like this.

"It is just unfortunate that they got injured. I hope they all make swift recoveries and are back playing again soon."