Jack Purdy, 14, was riding home from his girlfriend's house in Sunderland at 10pm on Sunday when he turned on to Hylton Lane in Boldon, unaware the road was blocked off by roadworks.

But while riding along the pitch-black street, Jack hit a road sign and flew over it head first, his face smashing on to the ground, smashing his jaw.

He also broke two bones in each arm and lost all his front teeth.

Due to his injuries, the Boldon School pupil could not take the phone out of his pocket and had to walk in the dark to a nearby house for help.

After the paramedics were alerted, he was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital, where he was kept in overnight.

The following morning, Jack was transferred to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he had four metal plates put in his face and wiring in his jaw to hold it together.

He also had six screws and one metal plate put in each arm.

Unable to speak, eat, or even go to the toilet by himself, his parents Martin Purdy, 39, and Joanne, 35, have been by his bedside all day, every day.

Mr Purdy thinks the road should have been lit with street lamps to make it safer.

He added: "He's absolutely devastated by the whole thing. Imagine how you would feel with all those injuries. It's horrific.

"He can't do anything on his own now, and we've been here taking care of him around the clock since the accident.

"When there is roadworks in the middle of the road, there should be lampposts there so cyclists can see them.

"There also should have been signs near the road to say the road was blocked off. I've looked and there's nothing."

Jack is still being treated in Sunderland Royal Hospital, and will require further operations before he is released. He is expected to miss the beginning of the school year.

A spokeswoman for Northumbrian Water confirmed that work is being carried out on the road by South Tyneside Council and contractors on behalf of Northumbrian Water.

She added: "The working area is clearly signed and it appears that Jack has cycled through one set of cones which indicate that the road is closed before reaching the second row of signs, which he hit.

"We sympathise with Jack, but the area he was cycling in was a well signed and prohibited area."