A cyclist is fighting for life after a crash involving a car on the A351 Worgret Road, near Wareham, last night.

The 58-year-old cyclist was flown by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital following the incident at approximately 6.10pm.

He remains "critically ill" after suffering "life-threatening" injuries in the crash.

Two air ambulances - one from Dorset and Somerset and the other from Wiltshire - attended the scene.

A South Western Ambulance spokesperson said the cyclist was in a life-threatening condition following the incident.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "A serious injury road traffic collision occurred on the A351 Worgret Road, Wareham involving a car and a pedal bike.

"A black Nissan Almera driven by a 26-year-old female from Portland collided with a pedal cycle ridden by a 58-year-old male from Essex, near to Worgret Manor.

"The male cyclist suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Southampton Hospital where he remains critically ill.

"The road remained closed for several hours and Dorset Police would like to thank members of the public for their patience while this was carried out."

One Wareham resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "We heard sirens and then heard the air ambulance helicopter.

"A neighbour later told me he had come across the scene on his way home and that a cyclist had been in collision with a car.

"He said there were police and ambulance crews at the scene and that the road had been closed.

"It appears that the cyclist was airlifted to hospital by ambulance but the road was still closed a few hours later.

"We have heard that the cyclist was in a serious condition but didn't hear if the car driver had been injured."

Officers have appealed for any witnesses to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 03:316.