A CYCLIST was airlifted to hospital after a crash with a car in Springbourne on Wednesday afternoon.

Police closed Holdenhurst Road both ways following the incident near the fire station shortly before 5pm.

The cyclist, a 25-year-old local man, sustained a significant head injury and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital for emergency treatment. His condition is described as serious but stable.

The driver of the Corsa, a local man aged in his 40s, was uninjured.

Holdenhurst Road reopened just before 8.30pm after police had concluded investigations of the scene.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or caught the incident on dashcam to please contact Dorset Police.

“I appreciate the road closures caused delays and congestion in the area but I would like to thanks motorists for their patience and understanding.

"We closed the road to allow emergency services to provide vital medical care to the injured cyclist and for collision investigators to establish what happened.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email SCIT@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 26:376. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to an incident involving a car and a bicycle at 4.56pm. The air ambulance took the male patient to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries."

Motorists reported major traffic issues in the area, and that officers diverted all Bournemouth-bound traffic via Jefferson Avenue, and Boscombe-bound traffic via St Mary’s Road.

The air ambulance landed at King's Park cricket ground before taking the casualty to hospital.

Three police cars and an ambulance were parked up on the road next to the park.