A MAJOR route was closed on Tuesday afternoon after a crash involving a cyclist.

The A31 was shut between the Merley Bird roundabout and Canford Bottom due to the "potentially serious" collision.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "We were called at 4.38pm to reports of an injured male cyclist."

Long delays were reported in the area.

A spokesperson from the South Western Ambulance Trust said: "We were called out just after 4.30pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a cyclist and a vehicle.

"A double-crewed ambulance and the air ambulance are attending."

The cyclist was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.