A CYCLIST is fighting for life after a collision with a car near Christchurch on Thursday morning.

The emergency services were sent to the A35 near the Cat and Fiddle, a few miles outside of the town, after the incident took place at around 7.25am.

A police spokesman said the cyclist, a man, was taken to Poole Hospital with head injuries and was in a life-threatening condition.

Speaking to the Daily Echo at the scene, Sergeant Nigel Burt from Hampshire Police said: “The cyclist has sustained injuries as a result of a collision.

“We are working out the whys and wherefores of what happened.
“Clearly the cyclist has sustained serious injuries, hence the nature of the road being shut for three hours.”

The bicycle was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said they were called by the ambulance service and attended the scene along with officers from Hampshire Police.

The road was closed both ways from the junction at Ringwood Road and traffic was diverted up Ringwood Road.

Locals said the road was notorious for accidents, particularly the junction with Ringwood Road close to the scene of yesterday’s collision.

Carol Edwards, who has lived near the site for seven years, said: “My alarm went off at 7.30am and as I heard it I heard a siren.

“The road is horrendous, I see accidents on what feels like a daily basis – no-one slows down.
“I’ve lost two cats on this road; it’s 40mph and people do 60 or 70 here sometimes. The junction is a joke, there are lots of minor accidents there.
“It would be fine if people stuck to the limit.”

Another person living near the scene, who asked not to be named, added: “I only saw a car out there and the next thing I saw was the police coming.

“This road has become busier over the years. I think people think they want to get down to Christchurch as quickly as they can.

“Nobody has five minutes for anybody these days.
“People approach the junction very quickly; they don’t hold back and whoosh into Ringwood Road.”
No arrests have been made.

Witnesses are asked to contact Hampshire Police on 101.